Colds are usually pretty simple. They show up, cause their share of irritation, and run their course in less than a week. Although it’s somewhat uncommon, complications of a serious nature can set in when you get a cold. These complications can include: an ear infection, sinusitis or bronchitis.
If the following symptoms accompany or appear in the wake of a cold, you should monitor them very carefully.
Serious complications
The doctor doesn’t normally need to be involved in treating a cold at all. But if you suddenly develop a fever in excess of 101°F a doctor should be contacted immediately. This could well be a symptom of a serious flu and your initial cold symptoms could simply have been mistaken for a cold when the flu was actually what you had all along.
If you have asthma you should be especially careful about cold symptoms. Symptoms of a cold can provoke an asthma attack in certain instances or make the symptoms of your asthma somewhat worse. If you feel a tightness in the chest and your asthma symptoms are growing steadily worse, call your doctor or get medical attention as soon as possible.
People who suffer from emphysema can have their cold symptoms linger long after a simple upper respiratory infection would have left their system.
Sinusitis (a sinus infection)
Typically, a cold can inflame the mucous membranes in your respiratory areas. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes. Sinusitis works in a way similar to cold in that inflammation provokes the sinuses to produce more mucus. This in turn, can block up the sinuses and you’ll start to feel pressure in your nose, perhaps even pain. Pain is a reasonably sure sign that your sinuses had been affected by your cold. But a lingering cold can also indicate a sinus infection. Headaches and pain above the teeth, as well as a lingering cough and a greenish-yellowish nasal drainage are also signs that your sinuses are infected.
Bronchitis (a chest cold)
If your lungs are inflamed and producing excessive amounts of mucus you have bronchitis.
The more common type of bronchitis is acute bronchitis. It’s usually caused by a viral infection such as the flu or a cold. Some people simply called acute bronchitis a chest cold, which is okay. The mucus produced by bronchitis may be quite thick, yellow and contain traces of blood. Medical treatment beyond that given for a cold is usually not required and recovery can take a week or two. Persistent symptoms accompanied by tightness or shortness of breath should be taken more seriously and medical attention and advice should be solicited.