Differential Diagnosis for "No cough just feeling cold"
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Viral upper respiratory infection (e.g., common cold): This is the most likely diagnosis given the symptoms. The common cold is a viral infection that affects the upper respiratory system, causing symptoms such as feeling cold, runny nose, and sneezing, but not typically a cough.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Allergic rhinitis: This condition can cause similar symptoms to a cold, including feeling cold, sneezing, and runny nose, but is usually accompanied by itchy eyes and throat.
- Sinusitis: An inflammation of the sinuses can cause feelings of coldness, facial pressure, and nasal congestion, often without a cough.
- Hypothyroidism: Although less common, hypothyroidism can cause feelings of cold intolerance, which might be perceived as feeling cold without other typical cold symptoms like cough.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Hypothermia: Especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with compromised health, feeling cold could be a sign of hypothermia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
- Pneumonia: Although typically presents with cough, some forms of pneumonia, especially in the early stages or in certain populations (e.g., elderly), might initially present with non-specific symptoms such as feeling cold.
- Sepsis: A severe, life-threatening response to infection that can initially present with non-specific symptoms, including feeling cold or unwell.
- Rare diagnoses
- Anaphylaxis: A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause a range of symptoms, including feeling cold, although this is less common and usually accompanied by other more alarming symptoms.
- Raynaud's phenomenon: A condition that affects blood flow to the fingers and toes, and sometimes the ears, nose, and lips, causing them to turn blue or white and feel cold or painful in response to cold temperatures or stress.
- Cold agglutinin disease: A rare autoimmune disorder where the body produces antibodies that attack red blood cells at temperatures close to normal body temperature, leading to anemia and potentially feelings of coldness due to reduced blood flow.