Concerned About Ongoing Symptoms After Negative Tests
I'm a 17-year-old male, standing at 6'2" and weighing 208 lbs, living in the USA. I have no prior health issues, take 7.5mg of Meloxicam for an unrelated condition, and I'm not a smoker. I’ve been feeling unwell for the past six days. It all began on Wednesday when I noticed a slight sore throat, which I assumed was just the onset of a cold. As the day went on, chills set in, escalating into a mild fever, though I can't recall the exact temperature. Fortunately, this fever was short-lived, but I found myself confined to bed for the entire day due to how ill I felt. My nose became completely blocked, and I noticed green nasal discharge. Interestingly, I experienced something unusual for me—a few small blood clots came out when I blew my nose. The following day, I visited the doctor, where I was screened for various conditions, including strep throat (the rapid test), flu, COVID-19, and even mononucleosis. All tests returned negative. To be thorough, we conducted a swab for other strep strains, sending a sample to the lab for more comprehensive testing. Those results also indicated no infection. By yesterday, I started coughing intermittently, although the intensity was relatively mild. There was a slight hint of fluid in the cough, but nothing alarming. My voice felt a bit raspy, likely remnants of my earlier symptoms. However, my condition seemed to take a turn today. I no longer have a fever or chills, and while my nasal congestion persists, my voice has nearly vanished, and I've developed red spots at the back of my throat—new symptoms that surfaced today. Could it be possible that this is still strep, and we merely tested too early for it to show up? What else might be causing these continuing symptoms?
Answers (1)
4/1/2025, 5:40:46 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're going through a difficult time with your ongoing symptoms, and it's understandable to be concerned, especially after a series of tests that returned negative. The symptoms you're experiencing—persistent nasal congestion, intermittent coughing, a raspy voice, and new red spots at the back of your throat—can be frustrating and confusing.
Explanation
Based on your symptoms and the recent negative test results, it's possible that what you're experiencing might be an upper respiratory infection, which can often be caused by viruses rather than bacteria like strep throat. Viral infections can lead to symptoms such as a sore throat, nasal congestion, coughing, and even blood-tinged mucus from nasal irritation or drainage.
The presence of red spots in the throat may indicate irritation or inflammation, which can occur after a viral infection. Since the tests for strep, flu, and other viruses have returned negative, your symptoms might be fitting within a common cold or a post-viral syndrome, which sometimes lingers even after they seem to improve.
Next Steps
-
Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids (water, herbal teas, clear broths) to stay hydrated and help soothe your throat and alleviate congestion.
-
Rest: Ensure you are getting enough rest, allowing your body time to recover.
-
Warm Compress: Consider a warm compress applied to your sinuses to help relieve nasal congestion.
-
Steam Inhalation: Inhale steam from a bowl of hot water or take a hot shower to help ease nasal congestion and soothe your throat.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a close watch on your symptoms over the next few days. If you notice any worsening of symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, high fever returning, or the blood in nasal discharge increasing, it would be essential to seek medical advice.
-
Gentle Throat Care: You may try throat lozenges or saline gargles to ease throat irritation.
If your symptoms do not improve within a week or if new symptoms develop, it may be beneficial to follow up with your healthcare provider for further evaluation. It's good to stay vigilant and proactive about your health. Please take care, and I hope you feel better soon!
Related Questions
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
INTENSE Spine Discomfort, Breathing Difficulties, Muscle Twitches, and Sweating
To elaborate on the situation mentioned in the title, I’ve been experiencing unusual muscle twitches and spasms for the past few days, along with some discomfort in my back. However, today, I felt an unexpected sharp pain shoot through my spine, which has left my legs feeling numb and made it impossible for me to sit up straight. Additionally, I’ve been dealing with cold sweats for the last hour and struggling to breathe properly. Perhaps I’m just overanalyzing things and it’s a common occurrence, but the intensity of the pain is overwhelming—it's truly unbearable. I’m shaking quite a bit, and unfortunately, my parents aren’t responding to my attempts to reach them for help. I have a history of a chronic heart condition and arthritis, yet I’ve never experienced pain this severe, especially in my spine. For context, I am nearly 15 years old and female. My current medications include pain relievers, anxiety medication, beta blockers, and some vitamins, though those specifics may not be particularly relevant. I don’t smoke; however, I have tried vaping a few times, which might not matter much, but I thought it was worth mentioning as it was requested.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.
Concerns About My Toes
Age: 30, Female Currently, I am on the lookout for a reputable podiatrist in my vicinity. However, I've encountered a perplexing issue with my foot. Just last night, I noticed a growth on the side of my toe, something entirely new to me. I maintain a nutritious diet and have a demanding job that requires me to be on my feet quite often. My footwear includes brands such as Brooks Ghost Runners, Hoka Bondi 9’s, and Nike Motiva’s, and I don’t opt for restrictive socks. I also apply Vick’s Vaporub to my feet, a practice handed down from my family, and stick with simple, non-fragrant lotions like Vanicream and CeraVe SA Cream for my skin. In addition, I am curious about the my big toenail's change in color. What might be the underlying reasons for this? Also, I have these persistent dark spots on my toes that I've struggled with since my days on the runway. Despite my efforts, nothing has succeeded in lightening or diminishing their appearance. I'm just looking to determine if there might have been a factor from the past that could have contributed to these issues. I’m not sure what else to include, but I’m open to answering any questions you might have. Thank you for your attention! Best wishes from a worried soul!