I will stay away from an explainer on any specific disease in this article, and focus instead on something that is both inherent and fundamental. Something that encompasses the entire spectrum of a disease process. In short, it is our ability to recognise and respect the cardinal fact that any sign or symptom is more than skin deep and potentially reflects a disease or a disorder.
While some diseases or disorders are short-lived, self-limited and harmless, many others are recurrent, incessant and fatal. Yet, no matter where the radar falls, the underlying truth remains that the body invariably sends a signal when something is wrong — be it subtle or coarse, tip-toe or tenacious. Our ability to recuperate from a disease squarely hinges on our ability to apprehend the signs and symptoms our bodies produce. The faster we recognise them, the quicker is the remission.
The difference between nipping a disease in the bud or letting it procrastinate tends to dictate the prognosis of a disease. And it is here that the seven-day rule of thumb becomes priceless. Let us then zero in on some of those signs and symptoms whose persistence can and must be taken into serious consideration:
- Fever
One of the most common ailments that affects the human body is an increase in our core body temperature. And one of the most common causes of fever is infection, be it viral or bacterial or fungal. While doctors frequently dish out antibiotics with a presumed or proven type of infection, any fever lasting for more than seven days must be intensely pursued. The various causes of unrelenting fever are too many to discuss here. But be it fatal infections or malignancy, any recurrent or sustained fever not responsive to antipyretics or antibiotics must be actively investigated.
Any fever lasting for more than seven days must be intensely pursued Shutterstock
- Cough
Who doesn’t cough? In a society plagued by pollution, cough comes as an inheritance. But any cough that comes and stays needs attention. Not all coughs are fatal, but acid reflux, post-nasal drip and cough-variant asthma are all causes that nevertheless need to be addressed. Amidst all these, don’t forget to watch out for those non-smokers who cough and can harbour lung malignancies, whether primary or metastatic.
- Any blood from anywhere
Any instance of enduring epistaxis (nose bleeding), hematuria (bloody urine), hematochezia (rectal bleeding), among many others, warrants immediate attention. These need not be malignancies, but they are certainly legitimate considerations.
- Headaches
There is little doubt that tension is the most frequent reason behind headaches. But never neglect other potential causes of recurrent headaches, including migraine, cluster and, of course, brain tumors. A CT scan of the head for continued headaches might sound dramatic, but they can be life-saving.
In case of persistent headaches, a CT scan of the head is recommended TT Archives
- Fatigue
I will end with this deceptively dangerous symptom that is the harbinger of many fatal diseases. Any case of extreme tiredness that does not get better with adequate rest needs serious attention. Indeed, prolonged fatigue can precede, accompany or follow many debilitating diseases.
The bottom line is clear. Any persistence of any of these symptoms for more than seven days needs proper diagnostic investigations and, hence, a doctor’s attention. Do not delay or dither. It’s your life, after all.
Dr Shuvendu Sen, born and brought up in Kolkata, is a US-based physician currently serving as the vice-chair, Research, at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center, New Jersey. An award-winning physician and author, his works include The Fight Against Alzheimer’s (Rupa Publications, 2024), Why Buddha Never Had Alzheimer’s (HCI/ Simon & Schuster, 2017) and A Doctor's Diary (Times Group Books, 2014), among others. Dr Sen can be reached at shuvendusen57@gmail.com
