Assist the person you are caring for to manage treatments and medications himself or herself. Encourage a healthy lifestyle. See that the immune system of the person you are caring for is supported through good nutrition, restful sleep, moderate exercise, good hygiene, stress management, and pleasurable experiences. It should clear up in a few days if I take things easy. If it is not treated quickly, it may become a life-threatening pneumonia that is much harder to treat.
Smoking makes the cough and respiratory distress worse.
Call health professionals about colds and headaches early rather than later. Headaches are a regular part of my life. When I get upset they come more often. This one will pass as soon as I relax. Report such headaches, especially if the CD4 count is low or has not been measured recently.