My doctor said I just have a cold - my strep test was negative - but my throat is so sore for three or four days now that I can't swallow, and my right ear is plugged so badly from SOMETHING that I can't hear out of it. I have post nasal drip which is making me cough, and barely any of it is coming out of my nose. Right now I'm taking Advil Cold&Sinus every 4 hours like it says, but I still feel like the same. Is it a cold? What else could it be if it's not strep??
2007-05-20 03:54:32 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
You may need to see another doctor. If your throat is as sore as you make it sound and your ear is completely plugged, you most likely have an infection. It's good that your feeling the "drip" in your throat, because that means your sinuses and ears are draining. I am curious if your doctor cultured your strep test. To explain, there is a quick strep test that they do right away at the office, but they actually need to culture the sample for a few days and then test again to give you accurate results. My last strep infection was an example - the quick test was negative, but a few days later, the doctor's office called and said that the culture test was positive so I would need to be on antibiotics after all. There is also the possibility of tonsillitis.
If your doctor is stubborn, and you have health insurance, just go see an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist).
However, with all this in mind, it is still possible that your original doctor was right and what you have is a virus and not a bacterial infection. But you want to be sure, because while sinus, throat and ear infections aren't too dangerous in and of themselves, they can lead to more serious problems.
Best of luck to you and I hope that you feel better soon. On a home treatment note, the hands-down best thing for a sore throat - hot tea - preferably hot green tea. The heat feels excellent on the throat, probably kills some bacteria on the way (bacteria don't do well in high heat, hence why we get a fever when we are sick - it's our body's way of trying to kill the infection), and the antioxidants in green tea are good for your immune system. I personally must have honey/sugar in my hot tea, but some prefer it without. Again, get well soon.
2007-05-20 04:16:50 · answer #1 · answered by Common Sense 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How old are you? Younger children and teens are more likely to get strep throat. Viruses often cause the symptoms that you describe. If the symptoms do not improve over the next 2-3 days and/or you have been having fevers over 102F I would return to the doctor. Otherwise, I would stick with the symptomatic care.
2007-05-20 04:03:08 · answer #2 · answered by fozzy40 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter constantly had a runny nose/congestion when she was about that age (she still does sometimes and she's 2.5).. anyway, the docotor told me not to use over the counter meds unless she was completely miserable for days and days, then I would give her pediacare cough/cold at night before bed. And I would say she definately needs baby tylenol/motrin if she has a fever. They make tylenol for cough/cold too. Anyway, if i did it with no meds, vicks babyrub was awesome! It's like vicks for us but a little less strong and it has chamomile and lavender in it. And humidifiers. they work great combined :) Good luck and remember every time she gets sick it is building her immune system for when she's bigger..
2016-05-22 00:07:17 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything you list is a symptom of a cold.
2007-05-20 06:43:26 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should contact your doctor again! Something is obviously going on and you need to find out what it is.
2007-05-20 04:02:39 · answer #5 · answered by clarity 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋