Do you have a cold?
Print off this checklist or check the appropriate box on-screen as you answer the
questions.
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| General Information |
| Self-Examination |
| Self-Assessment Checklist |
Several different viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat, and larynx cause the common cold. Antibiotics are not effective in treating the common cold. Colds usually resolve themselves in 1 to 2 weeks whether treated or not. Sharing drinks, shaking hands, kissing, hand to hand contact, and inhaling saliva from an infected person may lead to infection. Also, poor nutrition, lack of rest, alcohol use, and smoking may inhibit your body's defense to the common cold. The most important step you can take to avoid a cold is to stay healthy by having a good diet, washing your hands frequently, exercising, and getting plenty of rest.
If you have a history of asthma, diabetes, rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, taking an immuno-suppressant drug, or splenectomy, you should make an appointment to see a health care provider.
To do a self-examination you will need:
Do the following:
| 1. Take your temperature and record your results. | |
| 2. Go to a mirror and visualize your throat with a flashlight. Note the findings. | |
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3. Feel your neck and see if you have swollen glands and/or it is tender. Also, see if you can touch your chin to your chest. |
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4. Push on your face at your forehead and cheeks to determine if there is tenderness at these sites. |
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| 5. Blow your nose to see if there is congestion. If so, note any color. | |
| 6. Cough and see if you are able to bring up phlegm. If so, note any color. |
Now rate yourself by answering the following questions:
Check the box in Column A or Column B that most closely fits your symptoms.
| Symptom | Column A | Column B | ||||||||||
| 1. Fever | Less than 100.5 |
More than 100.5 for 3 days |
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2. Sore throat that lasts all day |
No | Yes | ||||||||||
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3. Sore throat for more than 7 days |
No | Yes | ||||||||||
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4. Sore throat with white patches |
No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 5. Swollen glands | No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 6. Neck tenderness | Less than 3 days | More than 3 days | ||||||||||
| 7. Able to touch chin to chest | Yes | No | ||||||||||
| 8. Facial tenderness | No or mild | Moderate or severe | ||||||||||
| 9. Colored nasal mucous | Less than 5 days | More than 5 days | ||||||||||
| 10. Cough during day hours |
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11. Cough during day hours with no other symptoms for more than 2 weeks |
No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 12. Breathing difficulties | No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 13. Wheezing | No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 14. Chest pain with cough | No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 15. Headaches | Mild to moderate | Severe | ||||||||||
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16. Ear pain
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| 17. Fatigue | Less than 7 days | More than 7 days | ||||||||||
| 18. Red rash over body | No | Yes | ||||||||||
| 19. Persistent vomiting | No | Yes |
Rating: If you have any checks in Column B, please make an appointment to see a Health Care Provider by calling (814) 863-0774. Or you can contact the Advice Nurse at (814) 863-4463.
If all of your check marks are in Column A, please refer to information at the following link:
Upper Respiratory Infections
Self Care Guide
to A Common Cold
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information found on this site is intended as educational information
only. You SHOULD NOT rely on the information to make any medical
or other decisions for treatment. Any medical or other decisions
should be made in consultation with your health care provider. University
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or other medical accidents arising from or in connection with the
use of or reliance upon any information on the Web.
Updated March 18, 2005