Should you go to the ER for cold and flu symptoms?

The common cold typically lasts between seven to 10 days, and common cold treatments are often nothing more than rest and over-the-counter symptom management medications.

When treatments for the common cold aren’t working and you or a loved one is experiencing flu-like symptoms, here are some reasons when your common cold symptoms could be a sign of something worse, and when you should think about heading to the ER.

• Loss of appetite
• Sore Throat
• Sneezing
• Cough
• Vomiting

• Muscle pain
• High Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Chills

Fever and cold symptoms can turn into influenza symptoms if you aren’t feeling any better as the days progress, or if the symptoms quickly escalate. In addition to typical common cold symptoms (fatigue, chills, body aches, etc.), high fevers in adults are usually a good indicator of a viral cold or potential flu.

Adults with a sustained fever of more than 102 degrees, as well as any combination of the below flu-like symptoms, should seek medical attention:

• Difficulty breathing
• Severe chest or stomach pain
• Vertigo and lightheadedness
• Severe vomiting
• Dehydration

Another important sign that can help you or a loved one determine if you need to visit the ER is when treatment for severe colds may make you feel better initially, but flu-like symptoms return. If your fever broke and returned after a few days, chest pain starts to come back or you are unable to hold down food after you’ve been able to eat normally, it might be a sign that stronger influenza treatment is necessary.

If at any point you or a loved one also is experiencing any symptoms of severe hydration, including extreme thirst, confusion, dark-colored urine and dizziness, seek medical treatment immediately.

You know your body better than anyone else. If your fever and cold symptoms just aren’t going away, and you’re concerned it might be the flu, we’re here to help. The Wesley EmergencyCare Network has five convenient emergency room locations open 24/7, including:

• Wesley Medical Center’s main ER
• Wesley Woodlawn Hospital & ER
• Wesley West ER
• Wesley Derby ER
• The region’s only dedicated pediatric ER

All of Wesley’s emergency rooms provide average wait times. Wait times are updated every 30 minutes and are based on a rolling four-hour average provided by Wesley’s patient information management.

If you ever feel like you are not physically well enough to go to the ER, or if doing so would put yourself or others in danger, please call 911.