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 provides some simple self-care strategies for avoiding colds. (See disclaimer.)
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:
- Take your temperature and record your results.
- Go to a mirror and view your throat with a flashlight. Note the findings.
- Feel your neck and see if you have swollen glands and/or see if it is tender. Also, touch your chin to your chest.
- Push on your face at your forehead and cheeks to determine if there is tenderness at these sites.
- Blow your nose to see if there is congestion. If so, note any color.
- Cough and see if you are able to 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. Place a checkmark next to the item in either column A or B (or click the button) that most closely fits your symptoms.
| Symptom | Column A | Column B |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fever | Less than 100.5 | More than 100.5 for 3 days |
| 2. Sore throat that lasts all day | No | Yes |
| 3. Sore throat for more than 7 days | No | Yes |
| 4. Sore throat with white patches | No | Yes |
| 5. Swollen glands | No | Yes |
| 6. Neck tenderness | Less than 3 days | More than 3 days |
| 7. Able to touch chin to chest | Yes | No |
| 8. Facial tenderness | No or mild | Moderate or severe |
| 9. Colored nasal mucous | Less than 5 days | More than 5 days |
| 10. Cough during day hours |
Less than 72 hours Clear to yellow |
More than 72 hours with fever Yellow or green for more than 72 hours |
| 11. Cough during day hours with no other symptoms for more than 2 weeks | No | Yes |
| 12. Breathing difficulties | No | Yes |
| 13. Wheezing | No | Yes |
| 14. Chest pain with cough | No | Yes |
| 15. Headaches | Mild to moderate | Severe |
|
16. Ear pain (pressure or drainage) |
No or mild No or occasional No |
Moderate or severe Yes, more than 7 days Yes |
| 17. Fatigue | Less than 7 days | More than 7 days |
| 18. Red rash over body | No | Yes |
| 19. Persistent vomiting | No | Yes |
Rating
If all of your check marks are in column A, check out the Self-Care Guide to a Common Cold.
If you have any checks in column B, please make an appointment with the Health Center.
What You Need to Know about Colds
There are several different viruses that can infect the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat, and larynx that cause the common cold. Antibiotics are not effective in treating the common cold. Colds usually resolve themselves in 1 to 2 weeks whether they are treated or not. 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 the information to make any medical or other decisions for treatment. Any medical or other decisions should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. The Health Center will not be liable for any complication, injuries, or other medical accidents arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon any information on the Web.