Common Misdiagnoses of Rhinovirus

Rhinovirus refers to a group of viruses that cause the varying symptoms of the common cold. Rhinoviruses are generally harmless to you but can cause a number of different symptoms that can be bothersome, such as runny noses, itchy and watery eyes, congestion, and sneezing. Viruses that cause the common cold live on the skin and other inanimate objects for approximately three days. For this reason, preschool-aged children and other young kids are more susceptible to this medical condition than adults. Fortunately, common colds generally dissipate with little to no treatment over the duration of a couple of weeks. 

Proper Diagnosis Procedure

Symptoms of the common cold are similar to allergy symptoms, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the two. When diagnosing rhinovirus, the doctor will request a medical history of family members in order to rule out allergies. After this, the doctor will ask a number of questions to determine if you have been subjected to a virus that might be causing the symptoms. Lastly, the doctor may order an allergy test in order to rule out hay fever and other allergic conditions that cause the same symptoms. However, whether this is necessary is strictly up to the physician that is treating you. 

If one of your symptoms is a fever, which, in the case of rhinovirus, can rise to as high as 102, the doctor will automatically diagnose you with the common cold, since allergies are not accompanied by a fever and the common cold is. The doctor will also look at the color and consistency of the mucus being expelled from the body though the nose and mouth because mucus is different in nature in each of these medical conditions and is the main determinant in correctly diagnosing whether you have the common cold or are suffering from allergies.

Misread, Delayed, or Missed Diagnosis

The most common misdiagnosis in the case of rhinovirus is being diagnosed with allergies instead of the common cold. An incorrect diagnosis can occur due the fact that the symptoms for both are so similar. The diagnosis can be delayed in some cases if the medical practitioner is awaiting the results of an allergy test in order to correctly diagnosis you.

Consequences of Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatment

The consequences of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment are nothing major. The biggest consequence to not being diagnosed and treated immediately is the feeling of being uncomfortable for a few days when the cold is at its strongest. However, the common cold is not fatal and in no way causes one to suffer from any major side effect if it is not detected quickly. A majority of those suffering from the common cold are able to make the symptoms go away over the duration of one to two weeks by treating them with home remedies and over-the-counter medication without even going to see the doctor. However, if the cold does not go away in that amount of time with treatment, you may have developed an infection accompanying the cold that will need treatment with antibiotics. This is particularly true for infants and children, who often develop inner or middle ear infections as a side effect of the common cold. If you have had a more serious condition misdiagnosed as a common cold, however, and you have suffered some consequences as a result, then you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against your physician. 

Getting Help

If you believe medical malpractice has occurred, contacting a lawyer is the appropriate course of action. Your lawyer can help you to assess whether you have a claim for malpractice and, if so, what the potential value of that claim might be and how it should be pursued.