Symptoms of a relapse
A common cold cycle lasts about 8 to 10 days. During this period the typical cold symptoms can be perceived in varying degrees. These should then show a clear improvement by the end of the cold.
A relapse would be recognized by the fact that already lived through or new symptoms appear again clearly. There are no typical symptoms of a relapse, as they are different in each individual. It is important to note that physical exhaustion is normal even after a cold, and a cough can persist for up to two weeks after the cold without this being considered a relapse.
Signs of heart muscle inflammation due to a cold
Often patients with heart muscle inflammation after a cold are symptom-free. If symptoms are present, they can be very different and also vary in severity. Those affected report feelings of weakness, tiredness and the typical symptoms of a cold, such as headaches or muscle aches.
The typical course of the disease, in which the permanent weakness is preceded by a cold, points the way forward. If the pericardium is also affected by the inflammation, pain may occur when breathing in as well as chest pain. If the course of the disease is severe, the symptoms may be cardiac arrhythmia (heart stumbling) and reduced pumping capacity of the heart (heart failure).
Differences to an influenza
The distinction of a cold from a flu cannot be made on the basis of individual symptoms. Rather, the course of the disease and the expression of the symptoms must be observed in order to make a distinction. A flu typically starts very suddenly.
It is associated with high fever up to 40 degrees Celsius and chills. In addition, other classic symptoms of a cold such as sore throat, coughing, headaches and aching limbs occur in the course of the illness. Patients who have had the flu report that they felt physically very weakened from one moment to the next, which can also be explained by the sudden onset of the fever.
The fever subsides after a few days. However, patients with influenza still feel weakened long after the fever has subsided. Furthermore, more severe courses with strong symptoms are observed with influenza than with a cold.
A cold slowly announces itself with symptoms such as slight weakness, a scratchy throat or a cold. Compared to the flu, however, these symptoms develop over a period of several days and do not occur within hours. A cold can also be accompanied by fever. However, this rarely rises above 40 degrees Celsius. In addition, other cold symptoms can also occur, but these are rather milder.Normally, a cold subsides within a few days and the long phase of weakness, which is typical for influenza, is no longer necessary.
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