Cold, Flu and Viral Infections Forum - Determining cold symptoms

Conditions and Diseases > Cold, Flu and Viral Infections Forum > Determining cold symptoms

The common cold is probably the most well known illness known to man. But did you know that it's a virus? Read to learn the basics about cold here....

Q: Determining cold symptoms

asked by: DoctorQuestion on December 16th, 2008

My son has been sick for almost a month now, with a cough. He was put on Omnicef just before Thanksgiving and this seemed to clear him up for about 4-5 days, and now the cough is back. He is breathing faster than normal, has this wet cough, and when I auscultate his lung sounds they sound "cruddy", could possibly be stridor type sounds, and does not clear with a cough. He has not been running any fevers. I called my doctor's office last week and they said it is probably just a cold. But would a common cold produce such "icky" lung sounds? Or could it be more?

Replies(1)

Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD

replied on December 18th, 2008

Cold, Flu and Viral Infections Answer A5098

Current medical status: The question is not for me, but for my 20 month old son. Cough for over a month, lungs sounds could be stridor, tachypneic, but no respiratory distress, no fever, decreased appetite.
Current medical treatment: None.

It is hard to answer the question without actually ascultating the child. The terms “cruddy” and “icky” do not help. The absence of fever usually indicates a less problematic condition. But, a severe problem is already present if fever with stridor breathing have already occurred. Because these symptoms can appear any time, a visit to a doctor is highly recommendable in every ill child. The doctor would auscultate the child and determine if a serious situation has occurred.

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