It is quite likely that in your time on a college campus, you will become sick. It is also quite likely that your sickness will be dubbed the “frat flu.”

The “frat flu” is just a catchy nickname for the common cold and its remedies include skipping lectures to sleep in, chicken noodle soup from the dining halls, and copious amounts of cough drops. But the danger in brushing off every illness as the frat flu is that if it is in fact something else, left untreated it could become very serious.

Symptoms to Look Out for:

Breathing hurts:

Painful respiration or chest pain can be a sign of an infection or inflammation and should not occur with just a common cold.

Lasting or very high fever:

When your body fights off foreign invaders, it raises the internal body temperature to kill the infection. Normally, a fever of over 100.4° F can last from a couple of hours to almost three days. If your fever extends past this period, it may indicate that your body is experiencing more serious infections. Any fever reaching 104° F indicates serious illness and requires medical attention. 

Persistent Cough:

Coughs are a common symptom of colds that can last over two weeks. However, if the cough produces blood or thick, greenish-yellow phlegm, is painful, or is worsening, you should go see a doctor. 

Having symptoms for longer than 10 days:

A cold typically will last no longer than 10 days. If you are still experiencing symptoms or they are not getting better after 10 days, it would be advisable to pay a visit to the doctor. 

Possible Conditions

If you suspect your cold is indeed something more serious, let’s break down some possible conditions.

Mono:

Mononucleosis, or mono, is a viral infection spread through saliva. Having mono is often described as having a really bad cold for a very long time. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits. 

Strep throat:

Strep throat is a bacterial infection spread through droplets, and it is highly contagious. Symptoms include painful swallowing, swollen tonsils, or tiny red spots on the back of the roof of the mouth.

Sinus infection:

When your nasal passages become infected, swollen, and inflamed, you might feel pressure in your forehead, sides of nose, and upper jaws and teeth. Another symptom would be cloudy, green, or yellow nasal discharge.

Bronchitis:

Bronchitis is an inflammation of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. It's similar to the common cold, with the only difference being a lasting cough. Acute bronchitis does not require medical attention, but if it does come back, it could be chronic. 

All in all, this is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it can provide some guidance about when to see a medical professional. The most important thing to remember is to take care of yourself and if in doubt, go to the doctor! 

Rachel Xu

B.S. Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology – Class of 2025