Is My Cold Something More Serious? Chest Pain & Productive Cough

Question
my kids gave me a cold that they had but it seems worse for me.. i have the runny stuffy nose, sore throat and drainage and cough with no fever my question is that over 24 hours the cough got alot worse and is very productive but hurts  my chest a great deal when i cough or breath deeply. how can i tell if this is more than a cold? thank you

Answer
Hi Tiffany,

Various individuals respond to illnesses differently. Most colds are due to viral infections, not bacterial. Thus, treatment is usually self-limited to management of symptoms and not the disease itself. From your description, you may have a series of bronchitis. It may be relieved with indoor humidifier, steam baths, and in a few cases may need the use of medicated puffers (bronchodilators). Bronchodilators are usually reserved for smokers, individuals with a history of lung problems (history of asthma, bronchitis, second hand smoke, etc), and serious infections.

Cold weather exacerbates the situation as well.

The average length of colds in adults ranges from 7 to 14 days. If you start to wheeze or have difficulty breathing, it is recommended that you get evaluated by your physician.

Regards,

John T, MD