A symptom is something that you feel or observe that indicates you have a health problem. Signs are things other people can see or notice, such as a skin rash or cough. Symptoms are only felt by you and may not show up on medical tests. Signs often signal the onset of a disease or illness, but they also indicate how serious the problem is.
Symptoms are the body’s attempt to solve a problem or send a message. For example, a child’s anxiety and difficulty falling asleep at night could be a sign that the mother needs to soothe her. Alternatively, a woman’s persistent colds might be a sign that she isn’t getting enough rest. Identifying the underlying cause of a symptom is the key to treating it and relieving your symptoms.
The common cold is an illness affecting the nose, throat and sinuses caused by viruses. The cold usually lasts 7 to 10 days, and most people don’t need medical care for it. But if your symptoms get worse or are severe, talk to your healthcare provider.
Cold symptoms usually start with a sore throat, followed by a runny or stuffy nose and then congestion. You may also have a headache and a slight fever in the later stages of a cold. A sneeze and thicker, colored mucus in the urine (chyluria) are common in both colds and sinus infections.
The dribbling or constant urination of true incontinence may be due to an enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), or a neurogenic disorder of the bladder outlet, such as urethral stricture disease.