Table 2 Nurse treatment protocols for patients with upper respiratory symptoms
Signs of alarm | Asthma or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease |
Shortness of breath | |
Immunosuppressive therapy | |
Temperature >40°C | |
Fever for more than 3 days | |
Symptoms for more than 14 days | |
Abnormal lung auscultation | |
Pregnancy or lactation | |
Decompensated cardiac disease | |
Diabetes mellitus not well controlled | |
Recent hospitalization | |
Severe ear pain | |
Severe headache | |
Chest pain | |
Severe weakness | |
Treatment approach | 1. In patients with runny nose, cough with sputum, fatigue and/or body aches, paracetamol 500/1,000 mg/day tid or qid, plus frequent fluid intake. |
2. In patients with cough without sputum, dextrometorphan 15–30 mg tid or qid or codeine 10–20 mg every 4–5 hours (if patient does not take monoamino oxidase inhibitors). |