Common cold: Common cold is listed as an alternate name or description for symptom:
Causes of Cold-like symptoms (Common cold): See detailed list of causes below.
Medical Book Extracts related to Cold-like symptoms (Common cold): Refer to the excerpt book sections about Cold-like symptoms below.
Cold-like symptoms (medical symptom): Symptoms similar to the common cold.
Cold-like symptoms (medical symptom): Everyone is familiar with the stuffy nose, sore throat, and cough from a common cold. This section focuses on symptoms similar to a runny nose; see also other sections on sore throat, cough, and headache. For comparison see the list of conditions with flu-like symptoms.
Although a cold or other upper respiratory infection is most common, there are several other possibilities. This list includes flu, allergic rhinitis (either perennial rhinitis or seasonal rhinitis), chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, otisis media, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Cold-like symptoms can also be the start of other conditions such as whooping cough, measles, mumps, or mononucleosis.
Cold-like symptoms (medical symptom): Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose – everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. Although the common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting one to two weeks, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and of school and job absenteeism. (Source: excerpt from The Common Cold, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
The list of medical condition causes of Cold-like symptoms (Common cold) includes:
All 730 causes of Cold-like symptoms
Review the causes of the following types of more specific symptoms for Common cold:
Research the causes of these related symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Common cold:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are more broader types of symptom than Common cold:
For a medical symptom description of 'Common cold', the following symptom information may be relevant to the symptoms: Cold-like symptoms (symptom). However, note that other causes of the symptom 'Common cold' may be possible.
More information on symptom: Cold-like symptoms:
Research related medical symptoms or conditions such as:
Common cold (medical condition): For a medical symptom description of 'Common cold', the following disease information may be relevant to the symptoms: Common cold (disease information). However, numerous other possible causes of the symptom may be possible.
Common cold (medical condition): A cold is a relatively minor contagious infection of the nose and throat that can be caused by a number of different viruses (e.g. rhinoviruses, coronaviruses). There are over 200 different viruses that have the potential to cause the common cold. Although colds can cause discomfort they are not considered a serious condition.
Common cold (medical condition): Almost everyone is familiar with the feeling you get when you start a common cold, such as a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or tearing. Colds are very common but are more common in children and decline with age. They are rarely dangerous to healthy adults or children, but may occasionally be dangerous to infants, the elderly or other at-risk groups.
Correct diagnosis of a cold usually means distinguishing between cold and the more serious flu, which is not always easy, but is important because of newer antiviral medications for the flu. There are also other conditions that start like a cold (e.g. rare but serious whooping cough) and numerous conditions that have cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms. Although there are numerous different subtypes of colds, diagnosis of the specific subtype of cold is rarely performed and not usually important for treatment.
Common cold: Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose – everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. Although the common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting one to two weeks, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and of school and job absenteeism. (Source: excerpt from The Common Cold, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
More information on medical condition: Common cold:
Free access to excerpts from published medical book extracts about the causes and diagnosis of Cold-like symptoms from the following published medical books is available for more detailed information that is related to Common cold.
... Is it acute or chronic? Acute onset of a cough would suggest an acute URI, viral pneumonia, or bronchopneumonia. A chronic cough is more suggestive of ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Are there abnormalities on the ear examination? The ear examination may reveal severe otitis externa, an epithelioma of the pinna, a foreign body, or ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Are there exudates? This is a key question when evaluating a sore throat. Most cases of sore throat with exudates will be found to have ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Is there a history of drug ingestion or injection? This will help diagnose drug reactions and serum sickness, which are common and easily discovered in the ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Is there a history of drug ingestion or injection? Of course, the history should reveal that the patient has been on a certain drug or has received ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fever is defined as an elevation of normal body temperature (37°C, or 98.6°F). True fever occurs when the body adopts a new thermoregulatory “set point” secondary to the release of pyrogenic cytokines... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Sore throat is a common symptom. Many patients incorrectly believe that antibiotics improve the clinical course in all sore throats. Although the vast majority of sore throats are of viral origin and should be... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Initial history of cough should include an assessment of the production of sputum, and the quantity, quality, and circumstances of the sputum production and coughing episodes. Additionally... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Initial history of cough should include an assessment of the production of sputum. Additionally, associated history and physical findings, with particular attention to the quantity, quality, and circumstances surrounding coughing... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The etiologies of rash with fever are vast, but a systematic approach will help the clinician quickly narrow the differential. Patients who appear “toxic” with... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Most sore throats and coughs are due to infection. Children may have 5–8 upper respiratory infections per year. The primary differential is between viral and bacterial etiologies, especially group A β-hemolytic... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Cyclic or periodic fever is an unexplained fever that recurs after fever-free periods at almost predictably fixed intervals. True cyclic fever is rather uncommon in childhood; it should be differentiated from recurrent... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Recurrent or relapsing fever is a cluster of febrile episodes that occur over a period of time, with documented fever-free intervals and without an apparent medical cause for each episode. It should be differentiated from cyclic... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a term that is often misused to describe febrile illness without an obvious etiology or without other symptoms. The definition in different studies is arbitrary, but basically refers to at least 2 weeks... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... A cough occurs by increased intrathoracic pressure against a closed glottis (Valsalva maneuver), followed by the abrupt opening of the glottis and a sudden expulsion of air. Increased intrathoracic pressure... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... In adults, “chronic” is often defined as more than 3 months of coughing in 2 years, but chronic cough is not as well defined in children. In general, for children, cough of more... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fever is an elevation of body temperature over the normal daily range for a specific individual in response to different insults. It occurs when the thermoregulatory center... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The differential diagnosis of cough is best developed with the use of anatomy. Cough may arise from an irritative focus anywhere along the respiratory tract. The irritation may be intrinsic, in which case it is usually ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The analysis of earache is much like that of dysuria: It is anatomic and inflammation accounts for the vast majority of causes. Thus, otitis externa would be like urethritis and otitis media like cystitis, and so ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The differential diagnosis of fever is best developed using physiology first and anatomy second. FEVER, NONINFECTIOUS CAUSES ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Breaking down the orophraynx, nasopharynx, and larynx into anatomic components is not very valuable in developing a differential diagnosis of sore throat. What is useful is to use the mnemonic VINDICATE to ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Resonant, brassy, and harsh, a barking cough is part of a complex of signs and symptoms that characterize croup syndrome, a group of pediatric disorders marked by varying degrees of respiratory... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Productive coughing is the body's mechanism for clearing airway passages of accumulated secretions that normal mucociliary action doesn't remove. It's a sudden, forceful, noisy expulsion of air from the lungs that... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Earaches usually result from disorders of the external and middle ear associated with infection, obstruction, or trauma. Their severity ranges from a feeling of fullness or blockage to deep, boring pain. At times, it may be... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
...Pyrexia A fever is a common sign that can arise from many disorders. Because these disorders can affect virtually any body system, a fever in the absence of other signs usually has little diagnostic significance. A... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... A nonproductive cough is a noisy, forceful expulsion of air from the lungs that doesn't yield sputum or blood. It's one of the most common complaints of patients with respiratory disorders. ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Acute Viral upper respiratory infection Pharyngitis Rhinitis ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Infection Bacterial Bacterial endocarditis Sinusitis ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Infections Bacterial Streptococcus pneumoniae Salmonella spp. ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The common cold (also known as acute coryza) is an acute, usually afebrile viral infection that causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It's the most common infectious disease, accounting for... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Cold injuries result from overexposure to cold air or water and occur in two major forms: localized injuries such as frostbite and systemic injuries such as hypothermia. Untreated or improperly... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Colorado tick fever is a benign infection caused by the Colorado tick fever arbo-virus and transmitted to humans by a tick. It occurs in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, mostly in April and May at lower... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Lassa fever is an epidemic hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, an extremely virulent arenavirus. This highly fatal disorder kills 10% to 50% of its victims, but those who survive its early stages usually recover and... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... An acute infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, relapsing fever (also called tick, fowl-nest, cabin, or vagabond fever or bilious typhoid) is transmitted to humans by lice or ticks and is... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Acute rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory disease of childhood, in many cases recurrent, that follows a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. Rheumatic heart disease refers to the... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a febrile, rash-producing illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. The disease is transmitted to humans by a tick bite. RMSF is... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection usually caused by the nonmotile, gram-negative coccobacillus Bordetella pertussis and, occasionally, by the related similar bacteria ... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Resonant, brassy, and harsh, a barking cough is part of a complex of signs and symptoms that characterize croup syndrome, a group of pediatric disorders marked by varying... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Productive coughing is the body’s mechanism for clearing airway passages of accumulated secretions that normal mucociliary action doesn’t remove. It’s a sudden, forceful, noisy expulsion of air (from the... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Usually developing gradually, this increased sensitivity to cold temperatures reflects damage to the body’s temperature-regulating mechanism, based on interactions between the... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... READ EXCERPTS »
... A nonproductive cough is a noisy, forceful expulsion of air from the lungs that doesn’t yield sputum or blood. It’s one of the most common complaints of patients with respiratory disorders. ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Earaches usually result from disorders of the external and middle ear associated with infection, obstruction, or trauma. Their severity ranges from a feeling of fullness or blockage to deep, boring pain. At times, it may be difficult... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fever is a common sign that can arise from numerous disorders. Because these disorders can affect virtually any body system, fever in the absence of other signs usually has little diagnostic significance. A persistent high fever,... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Désirée A. Lie Cough is among the top 10 reasons for visits to family physicians in the United States. It accounts for 200 to 400 million episodes of illness per... Approach ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Lyle J. Fagnan Fever is a physiologic state in which the body temperature is elevated above the individual’s normal temperature. Patients and clinicians consider fever an important sign of illness... Approach to the febrile patient. ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing. ... Diagnostic assessment. ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Michael L. O’Dell Fever with an accompanying rash represents a diagnostic challenge for even the most experienced of clinicians, as this combination of signs can represent trivial or life... Approach ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Differential Overview ❑ Rhinovirus ❑ Group A streptococci ❑ Ebstein-Barr virus ❑ Adenovirus... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Differential Overview Infection ❑ HIV ❑ Tuberculosis ❑ Endocarditis ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Differential Overview ❑ Viral upper respiratory infection ❑ Asthma ❑ Sinusitis ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Differential Overview ❑ Upper respiratory infection ❑ Allergy ❑ Asthma ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The common cold — an acute, usually afebrile viral infection — causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It accounts for more time lost from school or work... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Overexposure to cold air or water causes cold injuries. They occur in two major forms: localized injuries (such as frostbite) and systemic injuries (such as hypothermia).... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Often recurrent, acute rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory disease of childhood that follows a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. Rheumatic heart disease refers... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Resonant, brassy, and harsh, a barking cough is part of a complex of signs and symptoms that characterize croup syndrome, a group of pediatric disorders marked by varying degrees... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Productive coughing is the body’s mechanism for clearing airway passages of accumulated secretions that normal mucociliary action doesn’t remove. It’s a sudden, forceful, noisy expulsion of air (from the lungs) that... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fever is a common sign that can arise from any one of several disorders. Because these disorders can affect virtually any body system, fever in the absence of other signs usually has... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Resonant, brassy, and harsh, a barking cough is part of a complex of signs and symptoms that characterize croup syndrome, a group of pediatric disorders marked by varying degrees of respiratory... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Productive coughing is the body’s mechanism for clearing airway passages of accumulated secretions that normal mucociliary action doesn’t remove. It’s a sudden, forceful, noisy expulsion of... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Also known as otalgia, earaches usually result from disorders of the external and middle ear that are associated with infection, obstruction, or trauma. Their severity ranges from a feeling of fullness or blockage to deep,... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Fever, or pyrexia, is a common sign that can arise from any one of several disorders. Because these disorders can affect virtually any body system, fever in the absence of other signs usually has little diagnostic significance. A... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... A nonproductive cough is a noisy, forceful expulsion of air from the lungs that doesn’t yield sputum. It’s one of the most common complaints of patients with... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Definedas sound that occurs on sudden release of air under high pressure,which is generated by forceful contraction of expiratory musclesagainst a closed glottis. Clinical dilemma is to determine whether... Principal Causes of Cough ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Can be causedby external or middle ear pathology or by referred pain from another source. According to Potsic (1997), 85% ofchildren with ear pain have infection; 7%, referred pain; 5%,middle ear... Principal Causes of Earache ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Occurs whenpathologic process causes body temperature to exceed normal range. DuBois suggested that usual range ofnormal body temperature is 97–100.4°F (36.2–38.0°C)rectal or 96.8–99.3°F (36.0&ndash... Principal Causes of Acute Fever ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis: Acute Fever ... Diagnostic Approach: Acute Fever ... Principal Causes of Fever of Unknown Origin ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis: Fever of Unknown Origin ... Diagnostic Approach: Fever of Unknown Origin ... References ... READ EXCERPTS »
...Sore throat refers to any painful sensationof the pharynx or surrounding tissues and is a common complaintin childhood and adolescence. Principal Causes of Sore Throat Infection Pharyngitis/tonsillitis ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Resonant, brassy, and harsh, a barking cough is part of a complex of signs and symptoms that characterize croup syndrome, a group of pediatric disorders marked by varying degrees of respiratory... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Productive coughing is the body's mechanism for clearing airway passages of accumulated secretions that normal mucociliary action doesn't remove. It's a sudden, forceful, noisy expulsion of... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... READ EXCERPTS »
... A nonproductive cough is a noisy, forceful expulsion of air from the lungs that doesn't yield sputum or blood. It's one of the most common complaints of patients with respiratory disorders. Coughing is a... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Earaches usually result from disorders of the external and middle ear associated with infection, obstruction, or trauma. Their severity ranges from a feeling of fullness or blockage to deep, boring... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... A fever is a common sign that can arise from many disorders. Because these disorders can affect virtually any body system, a fever in the absence of other signs usually has little diagnostic... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The differential diagnosis of cough is best developed with the use of anatomy. Cough may arise from an irritative focus anywhere along the respiratory tract. The irritation may be intrinsic, in which... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The analysis of earache is much like that of dysuria: It is anatomic, and inflammation accounts for the vast majority of causes. Thus, otitis externa would be like urethritis and otitis media like ... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... The differential diagnosis of fever is best developed using physiology first and anatomy second. Physiology. Increased heat in the body is caused by increased production or... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Breaking down the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and larynx into anatomic components is not very valuable in developing a differential diagnosis of sore throat. What... Pictures ... READ EXCERPTS »
... Cynthia R. Jacobstein, MD Sore Throat - BASICS Sore Throat - description Sore throat or pain with swallowing is a common presenting complaint in the pediatric... Sore Throat - DIAGNOSIS ... Sore Throat - TREATMENT ... Sore Throat - FOLLOW UP ... Sore Throat - bibliography ... Sore Throat - CODES ... Sore Throat - FAQ ... READ EXCERPTS »
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