Cold & Flu Flow Chart
|
SYMPTOMS |
DIAGNOSIS |
CARE |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Do you have a fever? | NO? | Go to Question 6 | |
| YES? | |||
| 2. Do you have a sore throat and headache–without nasal drainage? | YES? | Bacterial STREP THROAT infection. Verify with a Rapid strep test | 500mg of Amoxicillin 3x 10d. acetaminophen, anesthetic throat sprays rest, water, and gargle with warm salt water |
| NO? | |||
| 3. Did your symptoms start suddenly, and do you have a combination of symptoms including muscle aches, chills, a sore throat, runny nose or cough? | YES? | You may have the FLU. | Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for aches and pains. Prevent the flu by getting a flu shot each fall. Taking Tamiflu or another antiviral medication may help shorten the duration or reduce the symptoms of the flu. |
| NO? | |||
| 4. Do you have a persistent cough that brings up yellowish or greenish mucus, wheezing and shortness of breath? | YES? | You have a viral BRONCHITIS infection of the airways. | Rest, fluids, warm, moist air, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and an expectorant to ease the coughing. It’s best not to suppress a cough that brings up mucus. antibiotics, generally are not beneficial. |
| NO? | |||
| 5. Do you have a headache or muscle aches, nausea or vomiting, and watery diarrhea? | YES? | You have gastroenteritis (STOMACH FLU). | Replace fluid loss due to diarrhea. Ease back into eating with bland foods and clear liquids. Plenty of rest. Ciprofloxacin 500mg 2X 5d for Traveler’s diarrhea |
| NO? | |||
| 6. Do you have a runny itchy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes? | YES? | You have ALLERGIES. | Cool, low humidity (40 and 50%) Air Filter. Cut grass. Oxymetazoline (Afrin) |
| NO? | |||
| 7. Do you have sneezing, a sore throat, headache, congestion and a runny nose? | YES? | You have a COLD. | Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and/or warm compresses may help reduce facial pain. A cool mist vaporizer may help your sinuses drain more easily. Rest and plenty of fluids. |
| NO? | |||
| 8. Do you have swelling or pain around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead, a headache, a dry cough, and/or discharge from the nose? | YES? | You may be developing SINUSITIS. | 500mg Amoxicillin and/or Clavulanate 2X 10d Guafenesin(Mucinex DM), Oxymetazoline(Afrin) Acetaminophen, ibuprofen Rest, fluids, warm, moist air |