Upper respiratory infection

[Medena]

Hi everyone!

I have an upper respiratory infection with a fever 38 C that lasts for 10 days already. My kid brought it in from nursery.
One doctor told me it's viral and the other one says the symptoms last too long and to take an antibiotic.
I'm confused about what to do. I cough a lot (Covic PCR negative), feel tired, have body aches, no sore throat but a lot of nasal congestion...
History of Cdiff and recurrency.
What is your experience with such an issue?
I'm not sure whether to wait longer to see if the symptoms resolve, or to ask for a penicillium together with metronidazole.

Thanks for your input

[Ril]

Have you had a flu test?
You can ask for a C&S of your sputum.

We can’t tell you what to do in terms of whether or not to take medications.

[Medena]

Hi RIl!
I know medical advice is not to be taken from here, but much good advice can be found here! such as yours! I will ask for the flu test and some other swabs, and the C&S! Thanks!

[beth22]

When I had the flu a few years ago I had fever for that long as well. If you do have a bacterial infection, it would be good to know which bacteria with the culture so that at least you know which antibiotic would work for it. No sense in taking an antibiotic if it is viral or taking an antibiotic that would not help a particular bacteria.

[D1dad]

I just went through one, looking back it may have initially been omicron but tested negative. My daughter and her husband also tested negative on antigen but positive pcr. After 2 weeks of the nastiest green, yellow and brown coming out of my chest and nose I caved and saw a doc. I was prescribed doxy and after a few days felt great with no adverse reactions to the antibiotic. I don’t wanna make a habit out of it but doxy didn’t feel like anything irritating to the stomach.

[Medena]

beth22 wrote:
> When I had the flu a few years ago I had fever for that long as well. If
> you do have a bacterial infection, it would be good to know which bacteria
> with the culture so that at least you know which antibiotic would work for
> it. No sense in taking an antibiotic if it is viral or taking an
> antibiotic that would not help a particular bacteria.

Very good advice! The doctor was amazing, he gave me amoxicillin, but he said let's wait for a few more days. Keep it with you, but don't take it yet.
He gave me tons of other medicines, something to clear the mucus, saline nasal spray and aerosol inhaler with saline - that helps so much!
So, I'm hopeful this will go away without the antibiotics.

[Medena]

D1dad wrote:
> I just went through one, looking back it may have initially been omicron
> but tested negative. My daughter and her husband also tested negative on
> antigen but positive pcr. After 2 weeks of the nastiest green, yellow and
> brown coming out of my chest and nose I caved and saw a doc. I was
> prescribed doxy and after a few days felt great with no adverse reactions
> to the antibiotic. I don’t wanna make a habit out of it but doxy didn’t
> feel like anything irritating to the stomach.

That's good to hear! Doxy is a lower-risk antibiotic, isn't it?
Seems like a good choice of an antibiotics.

[Lissaucd]

I had one recently, I used saline, gargle with salt water Ans albuterol inhaler which helped a lot. My daughter and I still have a cough. I have checked multiple times with her doctors and they advised that there is a virus going around causing the cough! We have had it two weeks already! Hope you are feeling better, I know how stressful it is at the idea of taking antibiotics!

[Ril]

Modena, doxycycline might not be effective for what you have even if it turns out you do need an antibiotic. Just because a med is a low offender it does not mean you should take it. You might be taking a medication needlessly because will be ineffective.
First you find the definite diagnosis, then treat the least aggressive way.
It sounds as though your dr is trying to do just that. But you might ask if a zpack would be as effective as amoxicillin if needed.

[D1dad]

Unfortunately it’s a bad year for bugs. No sooner than I kicked my last cold I caught another last week. The cold itself/sneezing only lasted two days but the sinus pressure and headache is still debilitating. My daughters a nurse and said they’re getting hammered by patients with upper respiratory which isn’t necessarily Covid.

[Lissaucd]

Lots of bugs for sure.I’m going on 4 weeks for my cough! Luckily my daughters cough has stopped but took a very long time!!