Difference Between Cold And Flu

Posts Tagged ‘difference between cold and flu’

Friday, November 20th, 2009

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
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 Decongestants Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines	Antiviral medicines— see your doctor
Prevention	Wash your hands often with soap and water; avoid close contact with anyone with a cold	Annual vaccination; antiviral medicines—see your doctor
Complications	Sinus congestion 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

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases