I feel like the cold has developed into bronchitis and I don't want to let it linger. With what I've described, when should I seek help?

Question

Hello, My 19 month old daughter came home from daycare with a fever and a bad cold last week. I caught this cold in the next few days and like her, it was accompanied by a fever (for more or less 24 hours), coughing and a rather intense nasal congestion with lots of secretions. I gargle with salt water and do nasal rinses with a homemade saline solution (using a 10ml syringe given to me by the pharmacy, 5-6 times a day) several times a day with more or less improvement. I have heavy coughing fits that often result in copious yellow/brownish sputum. The secretions from my nose when rinsing are also abundant and of a mustard yellow to greenish color. At night I am often sweaty with slight aches, without taking my temperature I feel like I must still have a little fever. No fever during the day, but I am still quite tired. Since yesterday I have red eyes and that asks, I woke up with crusty eyes this morning. It's not my first conjunctivitis (the last one was a few years ago), but it's the first one because of a cold. Thank you very much for your advice :)

Millie Yee · Accepted Answer

Hello Sir, In general, if it is bronchitis, the vast majority of bronchitis will resolve itself without consulting a doctor. It is recommended to consult a doctor when the cough lasts more than 3 weeks for a healthy person. If you have health problems (e.g. lung problems), the delay may be shorter. It is important to continue with the saline solution to limit as much as possible the mucus that flows down the throat. Thus, you can take Tylenol to reduce pain and fever if needed (maximum 4000 mg per day). For conjunctivitis, you can go see your pharmacist for a personalized consultation to suggest a product behind the counter if needed. Otherwise, conjunctivitis related to a cold will generally resolve itself within 1-2 weeks. It is important to avoid touching your eyes and to wash your hands frequently. You can use cool water wipes to make the eye more comfortable (do not reuse or share the wipes). You should see a doctor or optometrist if you have pain in the eye, sensitivity to room light and impaired vision. Enjoy, Millie Yee, Pharmacy Student Under the supervision of Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist