Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Posted on Sun, 26 Mar 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 26 Mar 2017 Answered on

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I've been sick for about 3 weeks with what I thought was a head/chest cold/congestion. It is not going away - my symptoms seem to get more varied. I'm very congested, very thick mucas, cannot taste anything, weak, listless, ears are plugged up, occasional fever - today I've had dirrehea. I have been on antibiotics for a week - but nothing seems to help - no over the counter meds. When I was a teenager I had mono - this feels suspiciously like mono...I'm 59 is it possible?

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Discussion follows

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for your query.
Once you are infected by EBV which causes infectious mononucleosis (mono), it remains dormant in the body. It can get reactivated if your immune status goes down.
The symptoms can be worsened if take Amoxicillin or any Penicillin group of antibiotics.

Do get back to me if you have further queries.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (19 minutes later)

Do my symptoms sound mono like? what symptoms point to mono?
I'm guessing I should go to my primary care doc and get tested?....

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not characteristic of mono

Detailed Answer:
Your symptoms are more suggestive of a URTI which may be due to any virus not necessarily EBV or you may have an allergic rhinopharingitis. lt is good to have yourself examined by a doctor , investigated and treated well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar