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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Are Sudden Pain Under Left Rib With Difficulty Breathing, Horrible Body Aches, Dry Cough Symptoms Of Flu ?

Trying to decide if I have common flu or something more. I am a smoker. A few days ago, I had a sudden onset of pain under my left rib and running up to my shoulder. It was difficult to breath other than shallow breaths. it lasted 2 to 3 days also in that time I developed a high fever with horrible body aches . Since then , while the pain in my left side has improved, I still run a low grade fever, dry cough, and body aches with some shaking..
posted on Wed, 29 Jan 2014
Twitter Wed, 29 Jan 2014 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 29 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on
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Infectious Diseases Specialist,  's  Response
Hello,
Welcome to HCM,
The symptoms are in favor of Respiratory tract infection.
As you are a smoker your symptoms of respiratory tract infection as increased.
If it is a viral infection it will subside by itself in 3 to 4 days with Antipyretics and Analgesics.
Only concern is as you are having pain in the left side of the chest you have to get an ECG for evaluation.
Thank you.
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Are Sudden Pain Under Left Rib With Difficulty Breathing, Horrible Body Aches, Dry Cough Symptoms Of Flu ?

Hello, Welcome to HCM, The symptoms are in favor of Respiratory tract infection. As you are a smoker your symptoms of respiratory tract infection as increased. If it is a viral infection it will subside by itself in 3 to 4 days with Antipyretics and Analgesics. Only concern is as you are having pain in the left side of the chest you have to get an ECG for evaluation. Thank you.