Debating on taking rx: viral or bacterial?

[Anonymous]

Last week I got mild cold and severe sore throat. Could barely swallow. Flu strep Covid negative. Urgent care doctor prescribed some mouthwash and a one time sip steroid drink. I declined the drink because it just started and all of pharmacies were out of the mouthwash.

I called my primary care because throat was so bad and he suggested medrol pack and zpack. Said in case it's bacterial or that 1 in 5 streps are false negative. I picked it up but decided to wait 24 hours. Yesterday was awful w coughng fits almost wheezing and on and off lower fevers


My throat now is mostly better but I have a horrible head cold now with massive congestion. Woke up middle of night 101.8 and couldn't breathe through nose. The coughing is bad but not a lot. Have random fits and today was more wet. But it's still kind of violent fits

So I'm confused if I should still take medrol and z pack. If this is bacterial, what is it? Covid keeps negative each day. I will call back Dr if need be but curious your thoughts

[Anonymous]

Mycoplasma is going around and is bacterial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mycoplasma is going around and is bacterial.

Thanks interesting. I didn't get x-ray but lungs sounded clear. I'm 53 btw

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t take it. Sore throat followed by congestion is a classic viral pattern. Usually strep doesn’t present with any other upper respiratory symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mycoplasma is going around and is bacterial.

Flu, covid or another virus are FAR more likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t take it. Sore throat followed by congestion is a classic viral pattern. Usually strep doesn’t present with any other upper respiratory symptoms.

m


Yes agree strep now very unlikely. And that's my normal pattern too but this was so over the top. Horrible sore throat and fevers and crazy cough hard to catch my breath at times. Like a cold on steroids no pun intended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mycoplasma is going around and is bacterial.

Flu, covid or another virus are FAR more likely.

Says who?

[Anonymous]

Parainfluenza going around

[Anonymous]

Our doctor also says there are a million throat infections that are not strep that can be helped with anti biotics. To me a fever is an increase in symptoms and not typical with colds. Of course most things will eventually go away whether you take medicine or not. It will just take longer and you run the risk of further escalation.

[Anonymous]

OP here- the cough and fever make me wonder if it's morphing into a pneumonia or bronchitis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our doctor also says there are a million throat infections that are not strep that can be helped with anti biotics. To me a fever is an increase in symptoms and not typical with colds. Of course most things will eventually go away whether you take medicine or not. It will just take longer and you run the risk of further escalation.

Yes I will likely take the meds but will give it a little longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mycoplasma is going around and is bacterial.

Flu, covid or another virus are FAR more likely.

Says who?

Common sense and actual data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mycoplasma is going around and is bacterial.

Flu, covid or another virus are FAR more likely.

Says who?

Common sense and actual data.

So, like OPs negative tests? Data like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t take it. Sore throat followed by congestion is a classic viral pattern. Usually strep doesn’t present with any other upper respiratory symptoms.

m


Yes agree strep now very unlikely. And that's my normal pattern too but this was so over the top. Horrible sore throat and fevers and crazy cough hard to catch my breath at times. Like a cold on steroids no pun intended.

My son had some kind of sore throat virus that wasn’t covid or cold last month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our doctor also says there are a million throat infections that are not strep that can be helped with anti biotics. To me a fever is an increase in symptoms and not typical with colds. Of course most things will eventually go away whether you take medicine or not. It will just take longer and you run the risk of further escalation.

Your doctor is incredibly out of step with evidence based medicine and antibiotic stewardship. Sore throat followed by cold symptoms is almost certainly a virus, and OP says the sore throat went away.