ACUTE CORYZA

A 33-year-old lady who works as a junior executive at a growing electronics company complained of frequently sneezing at her desk one morning. Later that day, she developed a mild sore throat and rhinorrhea, which worsened over the next four days, accompanied by nasal congestion, malaise, and occasional mild headaches. Her vital signs revealed a Temperature of 36.5°C and Blood pressure of 120/85 mm Hg. Upon investigation, her lungs are clear to auscultation with no evidence of rales or wheezes. There is no dullness to percussion. She reveals that her symptoms appeared after attending a meeting where most people were coughing and frequently blowing their noses. Based on investigations, the patient has an upper respiratory infection. The lack of fever and myalgias rules out influenza. Therefore, the most likely diagnosis is acute coryza, the common cold.1