# What's the deal with cold and flu treatments? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 31, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-cold-and-flu-treatments/287688 "2005-01-31T23:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-cold-and-flu-treatments/287688/1 "2005-01-31T23:55:33Z")
I’ve been lucky enough over the past few years to not have to learn anything about this stuff. But this winter is another story. I had a bad cold for about two weeks, about three days of health, and now about three days of a cold and mild fever. What should I do? Tylenol? Stay home from work. Zinc? Flu mist? Antibiotics? Any suggestions would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-cold-and-flu-treatments/287688/2 "2005-01-31T23:56:44Z")
See your doctor. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-cold-and-flu-treatments/287688/3 "2005-02-01T00:02:01Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > See your doctor. > > QtM, MD Seriously? I’d feel like a severe hypochondriac if I go to my doctor because of a mild fever. What could my doctor do that’s better than OTC meds? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-cold-and-flu-treatments/287688/4 "2005-02-01T01:03:10Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > Seriously? I’d feel like a severe hypochondriac if I go to my doctor because of a mild fever. What could my doctor do that’s better than OTC meds? Decide whether or not you have a bacterial sinus or lung infection, or something else. Symptoms that last longer than two weeks should be assessed, especially if they resolve, then recur. At the very least, you could ask to speak with your doc or his nurse, and get their recommendation as to what to do; they’ll know you better than anyone on the internet (from a medical standpoint anyway), and they’ll know what’s going around in the community. Besides, the mods hate it when one solicits specific medical advice here at SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-cold-and-flu-treatments/287688/5 "2005-02-01T01:44:32Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Decide whether or not you have a bacterial sinus or lung infection, or something else. Symptoms that last longer than two weeks should be assessed, especially if they resolve, then recur. > > At the very least, you could ask to speak with your doc or his nurse, and get their recommendation as to what to do; they’ll know you better than anyone on the internet (from a medical standpoint anyway), and they’ll know what’s going around in the community. > > Besides, the mods hate it when one solicits specific medical advice here at SDMB. Thanks, I’ll give it a try tomorrow. Didn’t know aobut the taboo against medical questions.