What could be causing my symptoms of fatigue, myalgia (muscle aches), rhinorrhea (runny nose), and dry cough, which started worsening over the past couple of days, and how can I manage them?

Acute Viral Upper Respiratory Infection (Common Cold)

Your symptoms of fatigue, body aches, runny nose, and dry cough that started 2-3 days ago are consistent with an acute viral upper respiratory infection (common cold), which typically resolves within 7-10 days with symptomatic treatment only—antibiotics are not indicated. 1

Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis

Your symptom pattern is classic for a viral URI:

• Symptom duration of only 2-3 days with gradual onset strongly indicates viral etiology 2, 3
• The combination of rhinorrhea, dry cough, myalgia, and fatigue without high fever (>39°C) or severe unilateral facial pain confirms this is likely viral rather than bacterial 1
• Viral URIs commonly present with these exact symptoms, affecting adults 1-2 times annually 4, 5

Key distinction: You do NOT have features suggesting bacterial infection, which would require symptoms persisting beyond 10 days without improvement, worsening after initial improvement ("double sickening"), or high fever with severe unilateral facial pain 1, 2, 3

What You Should Do Now

Symptomatic Treatment (No Antibiotics Needed)

First-line therapy:

• First-generation antihistamine/decongestant combination (like brompheniramine with pseudoephedrine) every 4-6 hours for congestion and runny nose 1, 3
• Naproxen 220-440 mg twice daily for body aches, fatigue, and any headache—this reduces inflammatory mediators causing your symptoms 1, 2
• Adequate fluid intake to maintain hydration 2
• Honey for cough suppression if culturally acceptable 2

Important caveat: Newer "non-sedating" antihistamines are relatively ineffective for common cold symptoms 1

Additional Options

• Saline nasal irrigation 2-3 times daily has no rebound effect and helps with congestion 3
• Topical decongestant sprays can be used but MUST be limited to 3-5 days maximum to avoid rhinitis medicamentosa (rebound congestion) 1, 3
• Ibuprofen 400-600 mg every 6-8 hours is an alternative to naproxen 3

Expected Course and When to Worry

Normal viral URI timeline:

• Symptoms typically peak at days 2-3 (where you are now) 1
• Nasal congestion and cough commonly persist into the second and third week—this is entirely normal for uncomplicated viral infection 1
• 87% of viral URIs show sinus inflammation on imaging that resolves spontaneously without antibiotics 1

Return Immediately If:

You must seek urgent care if any of these develop:

• Symptoms persist beyond 10 days without any improvement 2, 3
• Symptoms worsen after initial improvement (suggests bacterial superinfection) 2, 3
• High fever >39°C (102.2°F) with severe unilateral facial pain/pressure (suggests acute bacterial rhinosinusitis) 2, 3, 6
• Pleuritic chest pain, tachypnea, or respiratory distress (suggests pneumonia) 2
• Severe headache with neck stiffness, vision changes, or confusion 3

Follow-Up Timing

• Reassess at 10-14 days if symptoms persist to distinguish prolonged viral infection from bacterial superinfection 1, 2
• If cough persists beyond 3 weeks, reclassify as subacute cough and evaluate for post-infectious cough, asthma, or other diagnoses 1, 2

Why Antibiotics Are NOT Indicated

The widespread use of antibiotics for acute viral bronchitis and common cold is not justified 1

• Your symptoms at day 2-3 are too early to suggest bacterial infection 1, 2
• Most URIs are viral (caused by rhinovirus, coronavirus, RSV, adenovirus, or enterovirus) and resolve spontaneously 1, 7, 4
• Antibiotics would only be considered if you develop specific criteria for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (symptoms >10 days or worsening pattern) or pneumonia (infiltrate on chest X-ray) 1, 2

COVID-19 Consideration

While your symptoms overlap with COVID-19, note that anosmia (loss of smell) is a strong predictor of COVID-19 with 67% positive predictive value 1. Since you haven't mentioned loss of smell or taste, and your symptom pattern is classic for common cold, COVID-19 is less likely—but consider testing if you have known exposure or if loss of smell develops 1