Resolved question:
I just got over a cold, then I woke up on Monday morning with a sore throat, I then got a high temperature for 24hours. Since the temperature normalised on Tuesday evening, my throat has remained very sore and appears red and swollen (don't have any tonsils), my ears feel blocked, I have a nasty, chesty and sore cough and a headache; I generally feel bunged up. Want to know if I should see a doctor, or give it more time. Have been taking paracetamol to ease the pain and sudafed as advised by pharmacy.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello,
Thank you for choosing DoctorSpring.
You appear to have a Upper respiratory tract infection (specifically tonsillopharyngitis ). There is a 50-50 chance that the infective agent in being a virus or bacteria. If it is viral upper respiratory tract infection no specific treatment is indicated and it should resolve naturally. However if the etiology is bacterial you will require a course of antibiotics. From your current symptoms it is difficult to reach a conclusion.
For now you can judiciously observe your symptoms for 24-48 hours. Meanwhile I recommend the following.
1. Continue Paracetamol and Sudafed.
2. Betadine gargle (OTC in some locations). Dilute it with water as per instructions . Gargle it twice a day in mild warm water. If Betadine is not available you can use warm saline water for gargling
3. Steam inhalation twice a day.
If the symptoms are resolving and if you feel better then you can skip the Doctors consultation. But if in 24-48 hours if the symptoms intensify or if there are new symptoms you will need medical help / consultation.
Hope this helps
Feel free to ask followups
Thank you