Persistent Cough or Cold? Know When to See a Doctor

Most of the time, a cold or cough goes away on its own. However, if your condition is getting worse or isn’t getting any better, you may have to see a doctor for an evaluation and prescription for an effective cough treatment.

But at what point should you see your doctor for a cough that doesn’t disappear after a cold? Here are signs to watch out for to help you decide when to make that call.

Adults

For a grown person, the common cold is usually short-lived. Most adults can recover from a cold within seven to 10 days, but sometimes the recovery process can take up to two weeks. Usually, you don’t need to see your doctor unless you experience the following severe symptoms:

• Cough persisting for more than two weeks – A long-lasting cough could be a sign of something serious such as whooping cough. Often, this is due to postnasal drip where mucus moves from the nose down to the throat.
• Feeling faint – If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, call your doctor. Just in case you faint, have a family member or friend take you to the emergency room.
• Short of breath or having trouble breathing – A cold or cough shouldn’t be making you feel short of breath or trigger chest pain. If you do experience such, it could be a sign of a serious health problem such as asthma, pneumonia, or heart disease. Contact your doctor or head to your local emergency room when you experience these symptoms.
• Vomiting – Your body needs extra fluids when you are sick. If you can’t keep any food or fluids down without vomiting, you should contact your doctor who may advise you to go to the hospital to get IV fluids.
• High fever – If you experience a fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher that doesn’t resolve with simple medications, it may indicate an infection. At this point, you will need to go to your doctor to ask prescription for antibiotics.

Other reasons to see your doctor:

• Painful cough
• Cough that produces blood, yellow or green mucus
• Ear pain
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Wheezing
• Worsening cough even after cold symptoms subside

Kids

Children’s colds or coughs usually get better with simple medication like cough syrup for kids. However, make sure to contact your pediatrician if any of the following applies to your child’s condition:

• A fever more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the kid’s age
• Blue lips
• Cough persists for more than two weeks
• Decreased instances of urination
• Ear pain
• Labored breathing or any breathing problems
• Loss of appetite
• Your child is younger than two months and is experiencing fever
• Symptoms getting worse instead of getting better

Possible Chronic Conditions

If the cold symptoms clear but the cough doesn’t get better, it’s possible that you or your kid just needs more time to recover. However, don’t forget that there’s also a chance that this is a sign of something serious.

Prolonged coughing can be a symptom of a chronic condition such as:

• Asthma – This is a condition which causes the airways to become narrowed and inflamed, thereby making breathing difficult.
• Bronchitis – This causes the inflammation of the bronchial tubes which are responsible for carrying air from the mouth to the lungs. The production of thick mucus due to bronchitis can interfere with your breathing.
• Emphysema – This is mostly caused by smoking or inhaling pollutants which result in irreversible damage to the lung walls. Because of fewer large air sacs instead of many small ones in the lungs, breathing becomes difficult. A lasting cough is the most common symptom of this condition.

Making Sense out of a Persistent Cough

It may seem inconvenient to visit your doctor so that self-medication appears to be the best choice. In certain cases, this may be a good decision. However, it’s still important to bear in mind that you need to take the appropriate medication designed to alleviate your specific illness.

So it’s best to consult with your doctor first about what medications are safe and necessary for your condition. The treatment you or your child needs may not be something you can get easily without a doctor’s prescription. If you’re concerned that your cold or cough indicates something more serious, the best way to put your mind at ease is to go see your doctor.