Perception

It is very easy for physicians to dismiss things like "the common cold." Symptomatic treatment, rest, hydration; "it's nothing severe," we say. But now that I am suffering from a stuffy nose, rhinorrhea, cough, and sneezing, I have to say that no matter how insignificant we consider rhinovirus, it is an eminently persistent nuisance. I will have to keep this in mind the next time I see a patient with something I think is unimportant but is causing the patient, his family, his work a great deal of grief.