I have a sore throat, cough and secretions. Is this viral?

Hello,

Many people ask this question. Even health care professionals sometimes have trouble telling the difference between the two. So I can tell you that although I can't assess all of your symptoms from behind my screen, the symptoms you have may be similar to bronchitis. In a large proportion of cases (when there is no high fever, no muscle aches, no extreme fatigue), waiting for the symptoms to disappear is the best thing to do.

You should also know that recent changes to the management algorithm for bronchitis tell us that even if your symptoms persist for more than 3 weeks, it is still not recommended to take antibiotics (because the symptoms are not related to a bacterial infection). The only exception to this is when the symptoms resolve and then come back with a vengeance, which may suggest a bacterial superinfection.

So continue with the cough syrup and sore throat lozenges. If your symptoms worsen over the next few days, I recommend that you seek medical attention.

We look forward to seeing you,

Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist