When should I see the doctor? | Earache with a cold

When should I see the doctor?

In most cases a cold can be cured without medical therapy. However, in the case of persistent inflammation, severe accompanying symptoms or a long duration of the illness, a medical clarification should not be left out. It is not uncommon for a germ requiring treatment to be present or for a sometimes dangerous accompanying illness such as inflammation of the middle ear or pneumonia to occur. A medical examination must be considered even if the illness has lasted well over a week.

What do I have to consider during pregnancy?

As a rule, a common cold hardly poses any danger during pregnancy. However, more attention must be paid to the accompanying symptoms in order to recognize more severe inflammations in time. Important warning signals are, for example, fever above 38.5°C, diarrhoea and vomiting as well as a duration of illness of more than 2 weeks.

In case of uncertainties and other unusual accompanying symptoms, medical advice should be sought as a precaution. Also, more caution should be exercised when using medication than with other people. Various painkillers and antibiotics can be harmful to pregnant women and should not be used.

Therefore, self-treatment with medication should be avoided at all costs. Home remedies such as teas, inhalations, water, bed rest and sleep should be the first priority for pregnant women. Essential oils should also be used with caution and in consultation with the doctor. Some oils could be harmful during pregnancy.

Duration

Although the duration of the cold can vary, it can usually be assumed that the illness lasts between 1 and 2 weeks. Important factors that influence the duration of the illness are the age of the patient, the pathogens that cause the illness, the state of the immune system, and the involvement of various organ systems and structures. For example, a rhinitis that is restricted to the nose heals significantly faster than an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses with accompanying middle ear infection.

The duration of the disease can also be longer in older or particularly young people due to weaknesses of the immune system. In the presence of bacterial inflammation, the duration of the disease depends on the initial intake of the antibiotic. Depending on the antibiotic used, improvement can occur within 3 to 7 days.