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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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Prevention
No question about it, if you can be immunized against a viral illness, then that's the best way to prevent the infection. The best thing you can do yourself to stay healthy is to wash your hands. This will help you from picking up germs. If you come into contact with germs and you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you may get sick. Wash your hands:
- Before, during and after you prepare food.
- Before you eat.
- After you use the bathroom.
- After handling animals or animal waste.
Here's how to wash your hands:
- First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap.
- Next rub your hands vigorously together.
- Continue for 10 to 15 seconds. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
- Rinse and then dry your hands.
Keep a dispenser with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy in places where you do not have easy access to water for hand washing.
More on Viral Infections Vaccinate Against Chickenpox?
Chickenpox Vaccine for Grown-Ups, Too
How Safe Are Vaccines?
Protecting Yourself From Contaminated Food
Avoiding Illness at Work
Tattoo Safety Tips
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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