Common Cold Specialist
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Walnut Creek Urgent Medical Care
Urgent Care & Internal Medicine located in Walnut Creek, CA
The common cold is one of the most common acute illnesses. The average adult can expect to experience two to four colds a year, with children experiencing up to eight. While rarely more than a nuisance, cold symptoms can interfere with day-to-day responsibilities and often causes some to miss work. The expert caregivers at Walnut Creek Urgent Medical Care, in Walnut Creek, California, can provide quick and effective cold care when you need to get better in a hurry. To learn more, call Walnut Creek Urgent Medical Care for more information or come in right away.
Common Cold Q & A
What is the common cold?
The common cold is a simple viral infection that usually infects your upper respiratory tract. A variety of viruses can lead to a cold, making the common cold a yearlong potential nuisance.
What are the symptoms of the common cold?
Most colds cause a few common symptoms, though not everyone suffering from a cold will experience every one of them. These common symptoms include:
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Congestion
- Cough
- Slight fever
- Body aches
If symptoms from your cold last longer than 10 days or if you experience other severe symptoms such as a high fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, or a severe sore throat, you should seek medical attention.
What causes the common cold?
Most people catch a cold through direct exposure to the cold virus. The virus enters your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth.
The cold virus can spread through water droplets in the air, often when someone with a cold coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Hand-to-hand contact and sharing utensils with someone with a cold can also pass the virus along.
How is the common cold treated?
Doctors can’t cure the common cold, but treatments can relieve your symptoms. Your Walnut Creek Urgent Medical Care provider can recommend several medications to help control your symptoms, including decongestants, pain relievers, and cough medications.
Other treatment options recommended by Walnut Creek Urgent Medical Care providers include staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest. Saltwater gargles and saline nasal drops can also help relieve a sore throat and sinus congestion, respectively.
When should I seek medical care for a common cold?
While most colds will resolve on their own, you should take care to monitor your health for unusual symptoms. This is particularly important for children suffering from colds, as some of the symptoms can also indicate more serious medical conditions. You should seek treatment for your child’s cold if they exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
- Ear pain
- Fussiness
- Drowsiness
- Lack of appetite
- A fever over 100 degrees
- Symptoms that don’t seem to improve
Adults might want to seek care for similar symptoms, particularly if your cold is causing severe respiratory issues.
Do you need a quick recovery from your nagging cold? Let the providers at Walnut Creek Urgent Medical Care in Walnut Creek, California, help. Call or come in right away to receive expert care with little to no wait time.
