Is it just a cold, or something else? Doctors explain how to tell if you have the common cold or something more serious that requires medical attention, such as the flu, strep throat, meningitis, or mono.
1.Is it a cold, or something else?
It’s easy to diagnose yourself with a cold when you’re feeling unwell. But a cold isn’t always just a cold. It’s important to be able to tell the difference between the common cold and something more serious so you can get the medical attention you need.
If you think you have "just a cold" but are concerned it could be something more, it’s best to err on the safe side and visit your doctor. This is especially true if you have a chronic condition such as asthma, severe allergies, diabetes, kidney disease, HIV, or an autoimmune disease. The same goes for pregnant women and anyone under age six or over 65—the common cold affects these groups of people differently and can be more serious than it is for healthy individuals.
We spoke to doctors to find out what symptoms tip them off that it’s more than a cold. Here, the red flags they look for.
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