Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDifficulty BreathingFeverHeadacheSore ThroatCoughRashEaracheVomitingStomach PainRisk Factors
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Difficulty Breathing
Fever
Headache
Sore Throat
Cough
Rash
Earache
Vomiting
Stomach Pain
Risk Factors
This article discusses when you should go to the doctor for a cold or flu. It explains when a cough, fever, headache, and other symptoms warrant medical attention. It also outlines who is at high risk for complications and should consult their healthcare provider.
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The Differences Between Colds and Flu
Congestion from colds and flu can make breathing harder. However, difficulty breathing may warrant emergency medical attention.
In children and adults, seek immediate medical treatment for difficulty breathing with any of the following:
Fever Won’t Break
Fevers are a normal part of the immune system’s response to a virus. A low-grade fever (less than 102 F in adults and children over 2 years) helps your body fight infection.
However, higher fevers may warrant medical attention if they do not come down with medication or persist for several days. Some fevers even require emergency medical attention.
Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room for the following fevers:
Contact your healthcare provider for the following fevers:
You should also contact your healthcare provider if you have a fever and have recently traveled overseas.
When to See a Healthcare Provider for a Fever
Headache Won’t Go Away
Headachesare fairly common with colds and flu and typically resolve on their own. A headache that is severe or does not go away should be evaluated.
Contact your healthcare provider for a headache that:
Never use aspirin to treat headaches in children under 14 due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.Consider non-aspirin alternatives such asTylenol (acetaminophen)orAdvil (ibuprofen)instead.
It Hurts to Swallow
Pharyngitis(sore throat) is common with both colds and flu and often resolves on its own.
However, a severe sore throat may be a secondary bacterial infection orstrep throat. See your healthcare provider for a sore throat that:
Symptoms of Sore Throat
Lingering Congestion or Cough
A lingering cough and congestion can indicate a secondary infection such assinusitis,acute bronchitis(chest cold), orpneumonia.
Signs you should contact your healthcare provider for congestion and coughing include:
You should also see your healthcare provider if your symptoms resolve but then return, a sign of a secondary infection.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against the use ofover-the-counter cough and cold medicationsin children under 2 due to safety concerns and the lack of proven efficacy.
Nasal Congestion and Treatment Options
Rash With a Fever
See your healthcare provider if you develop a rash along with cold and flu symptoms. A rash with a fever is a symptom of more severe infections such as:
Other rash symptoms that warrant a doctor’s visit include a rash with the following circumstances:
Ear Pain Doesn’t Respond to Meds
Earaches are common with a cold. The pain can typically be managed with Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) and a warm compress held to the ear.
Ear pain that doesn’t respond to at-home treatment could be an ear infection. See your healthcare provider if you or your child has an earache with the following symptoms:
Can’t Keep Food Down
Contact your healthcare provider if you or your child cannot keep food down. Persistent or severe vomiting with or without diarrhea can lead todehydration.
Severe Stomach Pain
Stomach pain is an uncommon cold and flu symptom. However, other flu-like viruses and influenza subtypes likeH1N1can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
In children, persistent abdominal pain accompanying cold and flu symptoms warrants emergency medical treatment.
Though uncommon, abdominal pain is a sign of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness that can occur in children with the flu, chickenpox, and other fever-causing viral infections who receive aspirin.
Reye’s syndrome typically starts with severe stomach pain, vomiting, lethargy, and confusion. It can lead to seizures and death if not treated quickly and appropriately.
High Risk of Complications
Some people are at higher risk of severe complications and even death from influenza. Antiviral medications can reduce the risk of complications if taken within the first two days of symptoms.
Risk factors for flu complications include:
If you are in any high-risk groups, contact your healthcare provider if you have the following flu symptoms:
Flu symptoms tend to occur quickly and progressively worsen over a few hours.
A Word From VerywellA seemingly innocent cold or flu is sometimes not so innocent and requires professional evaluation. Signs that seeking professional care is warranted include coughing up blood or severe weakness, or if a fever above 102 F develops or will not remit after two days. A lingering cough, a sore throat that interferes with breathing, a rash, or the presence of other underlying conditions also justify seeking further medical attention.—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
A seemingly innocent cold or flu is sometimes not so innocent and requires professional evaluation. Signs that seeking professional care is warranted include coughing up blood or severe weakness, or if a fever above 102 F develops or will not remit after two days. A lingering cough, a sore throat that interferes with breathing, a rash, or the presence of other underlying conditions also justify seeking further medical attention.—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A seemingly innocent cold or flu is sometimes not so innocent and requires professional evaluation. Signs that seeking professional care is warranted include coughing up blood or severe weakness, or if a fever above 102 F develops or will not remit after two days. A lingering cough, a sore throat that interferes with breathing, a rash, or the presence of other underlying conditions also justify seeking further medical attention.
—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
For the most part, the common cold and influenza can be managed with at-home treatments. However, symptoms that are severe, persist, or return after resolving may require prescription medication. People who have a high risk of complications should also see their doctor if they may have the flu.
Signs that require emergency medical care include difficulty breathing, a fever over 105 F that doesn’t respond to medication, a headache with a stiff neck and fever, or loss of consciousness. In addition, children should be taken to the emergency room if they have persistent abdominal pain, vomiting with signs of dehydration, or a rectal temperature of 100.4 or high in infants.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu: What to do if you get sick.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fever.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Headache.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.Deciding when to see a doctor.Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Reye syndrome.American Osteopathic Society.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ear infection.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Vomiting.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.H1N1 influenza.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about influenza (flu).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People at higher risk of flu complications.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu: What to do if you get sick.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fever.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Headache.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.Deciding when to see a doctor.Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Reye syndrome.American Osteopathic Society.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ear infection.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Vomiting.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.H1N1 influenza.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about influenza (flu).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People at higher risk of flu complications.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Flu: What to do if you get sick.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fever.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Headache.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.Deciding when to see a doctor.Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Reye syndrome.American Osteopathic Society.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ear infection.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Vomiting.American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.H1N1 influenza.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about influenza (flu).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People at higher risk of flu complications.
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U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fever.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Headache.
American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.Deciding when to see a doctor.
Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Reye syndrome.
American Osteopathic Society.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds.
American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ear infection.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dehydration.
Nemours: KidsHealth.org.Vomiting.
American Academy of Family Physicians: FamilyDoctor.org.H1N1 influenza.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about influenza (flu).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People at higher risk of flu complications.
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