Do you have a cold?

Complete this self-assessment checklist for colds to find out. It will help determine whether or not you should make an appointment with a health care provider. Plus, it offers simple self-care strategies to help avoid colds. (See disclaimer below.)

Before you begin the assessment, you'll need to do a self-exam. The self-exam requires the following:

  • Mirror
  • Thermometer
  • Flashlight
  • Facial Tissue

Next:

  1. Take your temperature and record your results.
  2. Go to a mirror and view your throat with a flashlight. Note the findings.
  3. Feel your neck and see if you have swollen glands and/or see if it is tender. Also, touch your chin to your chest.
  4. Press on your forehead and cheeks to assess for tenderness.
  5. Blow your nose to see if there is congestion. If so, note any color.
  6. Cough and see if you can bring up phlegm. If so, note any color.

Assessment

Now you are ready to do the assessment. You may find it helpful to print this checklist. Click the button next to the item in either column A or B that most closely fits your symptoms. 

This is an interactive self-assessment exercise. It is not submitted.

1. Fever
2. Sore throat that lasts all day
3. Sore throat for more than 7 days
4. Sore throat with white patches
5. Swollen glands
6. Neck tenderness
7. Able to touch chin to chest
8. Facial tenderness
9. Colored nasal mucous
10. Cough during day hours
11. Cough during day hours with no other symptoms for more than two weeks
12. Breathing difficulties
13. Wheezing
14. Chest pain with cough
15. Headaches
16. Ear pain (pressure or drainage)
17. Fatigue
18. Red rash over body
19. Persistent vomiting

Results

 

What You Need to Know about Colds

There are several different viruses that can infect the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat, and larynx, causing the common cold. Antibiotics are not effective in treating the common cold. Colds usually resolve in one to two weeks, whether or not they are treated. Sharing drinks, shaking hands, kissing, hand-to-hand contact, and inhaling saliva from an infected person may lead to infection. Also, poor nutrition, lack of rest, alcohol use, and smoking may inhibit your body's defense against the common cold. The most important step you can take to avoid a cold is to stay healthy by having a good diet, washing your hands frequently, exercising, and getting plenty of rest.

If you have a history of asthma, diabetes, rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, take an immunosuppressant drug, or have had a splenectomy, you should make an appointment to see a health care provider.

Disclaimer: The information found on this site is intended as educational information only. You SHOULD NOT rely on this information to make any medical or other treatment decisions. Any medical or other decisions should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. The Health Center will not be liable for any complications, injuries, or other medical accidents arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon any information online.