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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
What have we caught?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
What have we caught?
by Z2005, Jan 03, 2005 12:00AM
On Dec. 22 I got a mild sore throat, and had fever and chills that night that was gone by the morning though I was tired.
On Dec. 23rd my sore throat got worse, I checked and saw white stuff covering my right tonsil and 4 small white dots on my left one.
On Dec. 24th I lost my voice and couldn't talk again properly until the 27th (around when the white spots disappeared). My voice is still a little scratchy sometimes today.
On Dec. 25th my eyes were tearing a lot and on the 26th my eyes were half gummed shut in the morning. Subsequent mornings have found a more than normal amount of sleep in the eyes, but never again anything like the first morning. The whites of my eyes never got red.
From Dec. 26th through Dec 31 I've felt better, and just had coughs at night that Rob. DM stopped, though I'm still feeling a bit tired.
Jan. 3rd I could feel something on the right side of my throat when swallowing, and it looks like there is either a blister or swollen tissue behind my right tonsil, and the tonsil has a white spot on it again. I again have a slightly sore throat.
My husband has had similar, but not the exact same, things happen to him. His fever was on the 26th and it lasted only for 1 day at 101 to 102 Farenheight. He never lost his voice and never got spots on his tonsils but has a scratchy voice and has woken up with his eyes glued shut several mornings in a row. First his right eye and then his left turned red for a day and then cleared slightly. He got a much worse cough than me and his sinuses have not cleared like mine did. His throat got more sore than mine for several days.
It seems like it is one sickness that is causing all these symptoms because they are similar and happened in the same order, but I am not sure. Plus, I don't know whether this is a really strange flu/cold or something else.
Should we go in to see someone or wait this out to see if it is a nasty flu that will get better? What does it mean that my throat problems came back? Why are some of his symptoms more severe than mine were?
On Dec. 23rd my sore throat got worse, I checked and saw white stuff covering my right tonsil and 4 small white dots on my left one.
On Dec. 24th I lost my voice and couldn't talk again properly until the 27th (around when the white spots disappeared). My voice is still a little scratchy sometimes today.
On Dec. 25th my eyes were tearing a lot and on the 26th my eyes were half gummed shut in the morning. Subsequent mornings have found a more than normal amount of sleep in the eyes, but never again anything like the first morning. The whites of my eyes never got red.
From Dec. 26th through Dec 31 I've felt better, and just had coughs at night that Rob. DM stopped, though I'm still feeling a bit tired.
Jan. 3rd I could feel something on the right side of my throat when swallowing, and it looks like there is either a blister or swollen tissue behind my right tonsil, and the tonsil has a white spot on it again. I again have a slightly sore throat.
My husband has had similar, but not the exact same, things happen to him. His fever was on the 26th and it lasted only for 1 day at 101 to 102 Farenheight. He never lost his voice and never got spots on his tonsils but has a scratchy voice and has woken up with his eyes glued shut several mornings in a row. First his right eye and then his left turned red for a day and then cleared slightly. He got a much worse cough than me and his sinuses have not cleared like mine did. His throat got more sore than mine for several days.
It seems like it is one sickness that is causing all these symptoms because they are similar and happened in the same order, but I am not sure. Plus, I don't know whether this is a really strange flu/cold or something else.
Should we go in to see someone or wait this out to see if it is a nasty flu that will get better? What does it mean that my throat problems came back? Why are some of his symptoms more severe than mine were?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jan 03, 2005 12:00AM
, Jan 03, 2005 12:00AM
Various types of upper respiratory infections or pharyngitis infections can lead to conjunctivitis and the eye symptoms you describe. The conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotic eyedrops.
Regarding the throat pain, I would consider a throat culture to evaluate for strep throat. This can be easily treated with antibiotics if positive.
Other considerations would be EBV (i.e mononucleosis) or other viruses like CMV - which can also cause chronic cases of pharyngitis.
If the pharyngitis goes untreated, there is an increased risk for a tonsillar abscess - which would require drainage by an ENT specialist.
I would have this evaluated by your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
Regarding the throat pain, I would consider a throat culture to evaluate for strep throat. This can be easily treated with antibiotics if positive.
Other considerations would be EBV (i.e mononucleosis) or other viruses like CMV - which can also cause chronic cases of pharyngitis.
If the pharyngitis goes untreated, there is an increased risk for a tonsillar abscess - which would require drainage by an ENT specialist.
I would have this evaluated by your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
I had the same white symptoms as you, plus one single hive appeared on my neck outside the throat area. Needless to say, it wasnt showing itself when I was in the clinic but verbal report should have been enough to do the strep test. I also did not have typical cold symptoms. I was so desperate when I finally found someone with leftover antibiotics they hadnt used due to allergic reaction.
My advice to all non-hypochondriacs is to take acting classes :-)