When Should I See a Doctor for a Cold or the Flu?
Call your doctor if you have any of these 6 serious symptoms.

Most people recover from the flu in a few days, and from colds in a couple of weeks. If your symptoms get worse, instead of better, call your doctor. Also, call your doctor right away if you suffer these symptoms:

#1 Difficultly breathing or chest pain

Aside from the stuffy nose and some general muscle aches, a cold or the flu should not make you short of breath or cause pain in your chest. These could be symptoms of a more serious problem such as heart disease, asthma, pneumonia, or others. Contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.

#2 Persistent Fever

This can be a sign of a secondary infection in your body that should be treated.

#3 Vomiting or Inability to Keep Fluids Down

Your body needs fluids to stay hydrated. If you can't keep down fluids, you may need to go to the hospital to receive fluids intravenously.

#4 Painful Swallowing

This is not normal. Although minor discomfort when you swallow can come from a sore throat, severe pain can be a sign of an infection or injury that needs to be treated by a doctor.

#5 Persistent Coughing

A cough that won't go away is usually just postnasal drip that may be treated with antihistamines. However, it could also be related to asthma or GERD, both of which can be treated by your doctor. In recent years, doctors have found an increase in a former childhood infection called pertussis (whooping cough in children). So if you have an unexplained cough for more than 2 to 3 weeks, your doctor may want to try an antibiotic to treat this type of infection.

#6 Persistent Congestion and Headaches

Colds and allergies that cause congestion and blockage of the sinus passages can lead to a sinus infection. If you have symptoms don't go away with usual medication, you may need to be treated with antibiotics. See your doctor if these symptoms persist.

Originally published October 2001.
Medically reviewed September 2003.


Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, is a senior medical editor at WebMD. She completed her internal medicine residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, attended the Boston University School of Medicine, and received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta.

The opinions expressed herein are the guest's alone and have not been reviewed by a WebMD physician. If you have a question about your health, you should consult your personal physician. This content is meant for informational purposes only.