Cold & Flu Treatment Print When to See a Doctor for a Cough or Cold Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Andy Miller, MD on May 03, 2019 Andy Miller, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and infectious disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Andy Miller, MD Written by twitter linkedin Written by Naveed Saleh, MD, MS Naveed Saleh, MD, MS, is a medical writer and editor covering new treatments and trending health news. Learn about our editorial policy Naveed Saleh, MD, MS Updated on September 08, 2019 More in Cold & Flu Treatment Over the Counter Prevention Symptoms Common Cold Flu Related Illnesses Sometimes a cough or cold simply needs to run its course; most of the time, they go away on their own after several days. Other times, home remedies or over-the-counter treatments can help them along. But there are cases where a cough or cold requires a medical evaluation to check for a more serious underlying cause and/or to more aggressively treat symptoms to prevent a worsening condition or complications. If things aren't getting better or are getting worse, you or your child may need to see a doctor for an evaluation and, perhaps, a prescription-strength treatment. There are certain signs to look out for to help you make that call. Adults Colds are usually short-lived illnesses and most people recover within seven to 10 days, but sometimes, that could take up to two weeks. You usually do not need to see a doctor unless severe symptoms appear. These may include: Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath: A cold or cough should not make you feel short of breath or cause chest pain. These could be signs of a more serious problem, including pneumonia, asthma, or heart disease. You should call your doctor or go to your local emergency room if you experience these symptoms.High fever, especially with chills and sweats: A fever that doesn’t go away might mean an infection that needs antibiotics.Not keeping anything down: Your body needs fluids, especially when you are sick. If you cannot keep anything down without vomiting, you should call your doctor who may recommend you go to the hospital to get IV fluids.Painful swallowing: Severe pain may mean a more serious infection requiring evaluation and antibiotics.Cough lasting more than two weeks: If your cough isn’t going away, it could be a sign of something more serious, such as whooping cough. Most of the time, however, a long-lasting cough is due to postnasal drip (when mucus moves from the nose to the throat).Congestion and headache that won’t go away: Long-lasting colds can block the nose with mucus and eventually cause sinus infections. When over-the-counter medicines don’t offer relief, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic.Feeling faint or fainting: If you begin to feel lightheaded or dizzy, you should call your doctor. If you actually faint, have a friend or family member take you to a local emergency room.Feeling confused: It is normal to feel foggy when dealing with inflammation from sinuses and side effects of medications. But if that fog causes you to feel confused or disoriented, you should have a family member or friend take you to your doctor’s office or the nearest emergency room. You should also see your doctor for: Ear painCough that produces yellow or green mucus or bloodA painful coughWheezingNight sweatsUnexplained weight lossCough that worsens even after cold symptoms subside Children Colds and coughs in children usually run their course in a week or two, and children usually get better without medication. That said, call your child’s doctor if any of the following apply: Your infant is younger than two months and has a feverA fever more than 102 F, regardless of the child’s ageBlue lipsBreathing problems, including labored breathing (increased effort to breathe), wheezing, fast breathing, and shortness of breathYour child is not eating and drinkingDecreased urinationEar painCough lasting more than two weeksYour child's symptoms get worse These symptoms may indicate something more serious than a cold. Concerning Possibilities If cold symptoms clear and cough doesn’t get better, there is a possibility that you or your child just needs more time to recover. But there's also a chance that this could be a sign of something serious. Prolonged or serious coughing can be a symptom of a chronic condition lung condition such as: Asthma: Asthma causes the airway to become inflamed and narrowed, makes breathing difficult.Bronchitis: Bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air from the mouth to the lungs. Production of thick mucus related to bronchitis interferes with breathing.Emphysema: Emphysema is usually caused by smoking or inhaling chemicals and pollutants and results in irreversible damage to the walls of the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult due to fewer large air sacs in the lungs instead of many small ones. A cough that doesn't go away is the most common symptom. Decoding a Persistent Cough Self-Medication Concerns It might seem inconvenient to visit your doctor. Reaching for an OTC medication may seem like the best choice. And in certain cases, it may just be. But it's important to remember that these medications are designed to be taken for specific illnesses and for short periods. Self-medicating can also, at times, be counterproductive and even dangerous. It can: Mask symptoms and allow underlying health conditions to worsenBe useless: A drug you select might be the wrong medication for treating your issue.Cause you to unknowingly counteract the effects of other medications you are taking, either making them stronger and dangerous or rendering them ineffectiveIntroduce the risk of an allergic reaction even if you have used the medications beforePose risks associated with incorrect dosing, potentially leading to overdosing that can cause liver, kidney and other vital organ problems It's best to talk to your doctor about what medications are safe and necessary, particularly if you or your child meet the criteria mentioned above. The treatment that's needed may not be something you can get without a prescription. Important Considerations for Kids Many OTC medications are not helpful and even dangerous to children. With children under age 12, a pediatrician is in the best position to determine whether any medications are necessary. Important reminders: Children should not receive aspirin because of the risk for Reye's syndrome.Talk to your child’s pediatrician before giving a fever reducer/pain reliever—Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen)—to a child under age 2.Read labels to ensure you are giving your child a proper pain reliever dose.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend giving young children over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicines.Children under age 19 should not take any medication with codeine. Evaluation After taking medical history and performing a physical exam, your physician may order a chest X-ray and perform other testing, such as blood work to determine if the cause of symptoms is an infection or something else. A rapid strep test can check for bacteria associated with a strep infection and is usually done for children who have high fevers and sore throats. In addition, an influenza test should be performed. Prescription Treatment OTC (over-the-counter) products for upper respiratory infections are not curative, but they can make you feel much better. Examples of such medications are Tylenol, Sudafed, Afrin, and more. Antibiotics can be prescribed for bacterial infections. For example, Pen-Vee K (penicillin), Amoxil (amoxicillin), or Keflex (cephalosporin) are all effective treatments for strep infections. Inhaled and oral prednisolone (a corticosteroid) will not improve cold symptoms unless symptoms are exacerbated by asthma. Doctors can prescribe nasal and oral steroids for inflamed sinuses. Sometimes, doctors will prescribe Tessalon Perles (benzonatate) for stubborn coughs. According to the FDA, benzonatate is not safe for children under age 10 because even a small amount can cause an overdose. At-Home Treatments In addition, the following treatments can be performed at home and usually help to relieve the symptoms of an URI: RestSleepStaying homeTylenol and OTC medicationsEating soupDrinking hot tea A Word From Verywell If you are concerned a cough is something more serious than a common cold virus, make an appointment. If anything, it will put your mind at ease, and if there is something wrong, your doctor can prescribe treatment before things get worse. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Colds and Flu: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, When to Call. Updated August 2, 2016. Fashner J, Ericson K and Werner S. Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 15;86(2):153-159. Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Curr Drug Saf. 2010 Oct;5(4):315-23. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age. Published December 14, 2010. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When to Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds. Updated November 27, 2018. Continue Reading