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Fever headache and stuffed nose since preparing for a stressful competition.

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Hello. I am sixteen years old and female. Last week I was incredibly stressed over a competition. I have never won gold, and this year I was CERTAIN to win it. If I didn't, I would surely break down! I had to write and memorize a 5-7 minute speech and then perform it to the judges. My health was slowly deteriorating and my stress levels were at record highs for a whole week. I did not sleep more than 4 hours for 4 days during the contest and every moment was filled with chest pains, horrible shakes, and head aches. I'm happy to say that I did indeed win my gold (last Saturday) and I was fine for a day after that. I only had a sore throat from screaming and catching a cold. On Monday when I returned to school, however, I was struck with light headedness and chills around 1:15pm. The chills and lightheadedness lasted about 4 hours and then I caught a fever. The fever lasted for an hour or two. Yesterday and today I've been getting fevers and chills in intervals. In the morning, a little after noon, and night I get crippling 3-hour chills and if I wait or sleep it off a fever follows it for about an hour. My skin crawls and it slightly hurts to touch. I still have a stuffed nose and sore throat (but not too bad). I'm missing valuable class time right now. What should I do?

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Category: Family Physician-GP
 18 Doctors Online

Hi,

It seems that you are suffering from common cold. The competition and the lack of sleep coupled with decreased nutrition could have caused a decline in the body immunity.

The common cold is a self-limited contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. The common cold is medically referred to as a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Symptoms of the common cold may include cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion. Because so many different viruses can cause a cold and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem.

1) Take Tab. Tylenol to reduce the fever and decrease the swelling over the throat.

2) Home treatments such as gargling with salt water, drinking warm tea may help relieve discomfort and reduce the inflammation.

3) Take over the counter nonprescription drugs Tab. acetaminophen 250 mg twice a day or Tab. Ibuprofen to relive the pain.

4) Only as a last resort antibiotics specific to the bacteria can be tried. Usually Tab. Amoxicillin is used. You will need to get a throat swab and culture done before antibiotics.

5)The virus that causes mononucleosis (mono) can lead to tonsillitis that is as severe as tonsillitis caused by bacteria .If you develop swollen glands, consult a doctor for mono.

6) Take tab. Cetirizine to reduce the discomfort and itch associated with the Common cold and flu

If the symptoms do not reduce in 3 weeks consult a general physician as it may need through physical to find the nidus of infection.

Thank you.


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
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