So, a few days ago, I (15F) woke up with a sore throat and knew I was coming down with something. I went to the hospital to get a medical excuse, and they told me I had Influenza A, gave me some medication, and sent me home. However, four days later, my fever and symptoms worsened to the point where I was stuck in bed all day, so I went back. My original doctor wasn’t there, so a different doctor suspected I might have both COVID and the flu. They did blood work and an IV drip, and she said she’d follow up with the results. Yesterday, she called to say it wasn’t COVID or the flu, but a viral infection. She tried to refer me to an internal medicine specialist, but because I’m a minor and my mom was traveling, he wouldn’t see me. My doctor consulted him on my behalf, and he recommended an X-ray. After reviewing the images, she told me I had a chest infection; she didn’t say the specific name to me, but she wrote ‘acute bronchitis’ on my sick leave form. I saw the X-ray myself and noticed some grey patches near my lungs on the left side, though I think she mentioned it wasn’t actually in the lungs. She had already started me on antibiotics the day before when she thought it might be COVID. My fever has mostly gone away now, but I still have a cough, a runny nose, and I feel very heavy and exhausted. During the first few days, I had no appetite because everything tasted awful, my head throbbed whenever I moved, and I would get chills in the shower and feel so dizzy I had to sit down. Now that the fever is gone, how do I tell when the infection is actually cleared? Does this sound like bronchitis, or could it be something else? What symptoms should I be monitoring to know if I’m ‘improving’ like the doctor suggested? Also, I’ve noticed my hair seems to be falling out.
I forgot to mention that shortly before I got sick, I spent time with my cousin who had the flu. Now two of my other cousins are sick as well—one has the flu, and I’m not sure about the other one.