A 22-year-old woman presents with rhinorrhea, watery eyes, sore throat, and a productive cough for two days. She wakes at night with cough. Vital signs are normal and lungs are clear. What is the most appropriate management?

• A. Supportive Care
• B. Antibiotics
• C. Intranasal corticosteroids
• D. Decongestants

Answer: (A)

Viral upper respiratory infection is the most likely explanation for this presentation: two days of rhinorrhea, watery eyes, sore throat, productive cough, night cough, with normal vitals and clear lungs. The best approach is supportive care because the illness is self-limited and caused by a virus, so antibiotics won’t help and could cause harm.

Supportive care focuses on comfort and symptom relief rather than targeting an infection. This includes adequate fluids, rest, and over-the-counter analgesics or antipyretics for throat discomfort or fever. Saline nasal irrigation or sprays, humidified air, and brief use of decongestants or cough suppressants can ease symptoms if needed. Intranasal corticosteroids aren’t routinely required for a simple cold, and antibiotics aren’t indicated here. Monitor for red flags (worsening fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, symptoms lasting beyond about a week to 10 days), which would warrant re-evaluation.