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When to Call the Doctor for a Cold |
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Symptoms last more than 10 days
Severe pain in face or forehead
Fever higher than 102 degrees F
Short of breath
Wheezing
Earache or drainage from the ear canal
Sore throat or cough that doesn't go away
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Causes
The body's exposure to viral particles causes an immune response that often brings general symptoms, such as fever, chills and muscle aches. System specific symptoms of respiratory tract viruses include runny nose and sneezing, coughing or difficulty breathing. Other viruses, such as rotavirus, which invade the intestine, cause acute diarrhea. Similar viruses may affect the same organ but bring about different patterns of disease. The hepatitis viruses carry different genetic information that leads to acute self-limiting illness - in the case of hepatitis A - or latent infection and possibly severe liver damage and cirrhosis - as with hepatitis B.
More on Viral Infections Colds and Flu
What Is St. Louis Encephalitis?
Diseases Can Be Weapons of Terror
Six Possible Biological Weapons
What Is Hepatitis?
In the Encyclopedia: Leukemias, acute
Adenovirus infections
Cough suppressants
Antiretroviral drugs
Antiviral drugs
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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