Cold vs Flu Facts and Symptoms

The leaves are falling and the sun is going down sooner everyday.  Fall is here and Winter is not far behind which means that the Cold and Flu season is approaching quickly.  Often times it is difficult for people to tell the difference between a common cold and the influenza, but this helpful chart from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/Flu/Pages/coldOrFlu.aspx is a great resource which breaks down the different symptoms associated with Colds and the Flu.

Is It a Cold or the Flu?

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Fever	Rare	Usual; high (100°F to 102°F; occasionally higher, especially in young children); lasts 3 to 4 days
Headache	Rare	Common
General Aches, Pains	Slight	Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness	Sometimes	Usual; can last up to 2 to 3 weeks
Extreme Exhaustion	Never	Usual; at the beginning of the illness
Stuffy Nose	Common	Sometimes
Sneezing	Usual	Sometimes
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough	Mild to moderate; hacking cough	Common; can become severe
Treatment	Antihistamines Decongestant Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines	Antiviral medicines— see your healthcare provider
Prevention	Wash your hands often with soap and water; Avoid close contact with anyone with a cold	Annual vaccination; antiviral medicines—see your healthcare provider
Complications	Sinus infection Middle ear infection Asthma	Bronchitis, pneumonia; can worsen chronic conditions; can be life threatening. Complications more likely in the elderly, those with chronic conditions, young children, and pregnant women