ARE YOU TOO SICK TO GO OUT?

ARE YOU TOO SICK TO GO OUT?

Do you need to see a doctor?
It would be smart at least to call, if all you have is a bad cold or an upset stomach and no chronic conditions, you may not need to go to the doctor’s office. But a nasty or long-lasting rash should be looked at, and if you have a bad sore throat, you may just need a test for strep throat. Suspect you have the flu? Call immediately — your doctor may prescribe one of the anti-viral “wonder drugs”, which can get you back on your feet faster. But these must be started within 48 hours of the first symptom.
Is it flu or just a bad cold?
Stuffy nose, sore throat and mild cough are standard issue for both. But a cold sneaks up on you, while the flu hits you over the head with sudden fever and a headache. Real exhaustion, a dry cough and full-body ache are also flu clues. Signs that the illness may be morphing into pneumonia or bronchitis include such icky factors as hacking up green phlegm (what doctors delicately call a “productive” cough), as well as extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. These call for a trip to the doctor, who may prescribe a course of antibiotics