Can a *cold* last 10 days?

[Big Cuddly Bear]

My daughter is under the weather and has been for about 10 days. We took her to the doctor and he said it is just a cold. That was about 6 days ago. He said it will run its course. So far, she isn't any better, but not any worse, either.

I think I plan to take her to see a different doctor tomorrow.

BTW, how can a doctor tell the difference between a virus and an infection? I know for a fact that I have been told I have a virus more than once, when it really was an infection.

 

[Christine]

My doctor believes this, and so far, he's been right. I don't' get colds very often but when I do, I am down for about 3 weeks pretty badly. I know a lot of people automatically think it's a sinus infection when it lasts more than a week but that's really not true (unless you know you are prone to sinus infections).

The key is, it has been 10 days. Is she getting somewhat better? Getting worse? Still feeling dragged out? Has there been any type of improving signs?

 

[JessicaR]

Does she have a fever? Did she have one in the beginning? Sometimes a cold turns into a bacterial infection from a viral infection like in the sinuses or lungs. What are her symptoms right now? I think after 10 days I would have her checked out again.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Does she have a fever? Did she have one in the beginning? Sometimes a cold turns into a bacterial infection from a viral infection like in the sinuses or lungs. What are her symptoms right now? I think after 10 days I would have her checked out again.

This morning no fever. Last night she had 100.6. She has had a fever here and there during the 10 days, but usually for a few hours and then it is gone.

Like I said, I think I will get an appointment for her tomorrow.

 

[JessicaR]

Good luck - hope she feels better! It's been a long winter around here.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

So we went today and this doctor said she had both a sinus and an ear infection. And now she is on antibiotics.

No way to prove it one way or another, but I bet she has had an infection all along. The original doctor is one we don't place much faith in, but he was the only one who had an opening. He once told us my kids had a cold, when in fact, both had RSV.

So, at this point, I don't see us ever letting him look at my kids again.

 

[tlbwriter]

BTW, how can a doctor tell the difference between a virus and an infection? I know for a fact that I have been told I have a virus more than once, when it really was an infection.

You're confused. An infection is caused by a pathogen. A pathogen can be bacteria, or a virus, or something else. If you had a virus, you had an infection.

Anyway. There are ways to tell the difference between a cold and a more serious virus or a bacterial infection, but much of it is guesswork. A good doctor won't throw antibiotics at you every time you're sick, because they do nothing against a bacterial infection, and can lead to drug-resistant viruses. So being conservative about treatment when the patient probably just has a cold is a good idea. But maybe this doctor is a little too conservative.

 

[Kellydelly]

You're confused. An infection is caused by a pathogen. A pathogen can be bacteria, or a virus, or something else. If you had a virus, you had an infection.

Anyway. There are ways to tell the difference between a cold and a more serious virus or a bacterial infection, but much of it is guesswork. A good doctor won't throw antibiotics at you every time you're sick, because they do nothing against a bacterial infection, and can lead to drug-resistant viruses. So being conservative about treatment when the patient probably just has a cold is a good idea. But maybe this doctor is a little too conservative.

I agree. A cold can contribute to a sinus or ear infection. It is very possible your child did not have anything but an upper respiratory infection when first seen by the doctor and it happened to progress to something else. And a cold can definately last 10 or more days. I hope your daughter gets welll fast!

 

[JessicaR]

Glad you went. I hope she starts feeling better.