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Cold vs Flu
SYMPTOMS |
COLD |
FLU |
Fever |
Less Common <100F |
Sudden Onset >100F |
Headache |
Mild or Absent |
Prominent |
Muscle Aches |
Mild or Absent |
Prominent |
Runny Nose/ Congestion |
Common |
Common |
Cough |
Less common, sneezing |
Common, dry hacking at onset |
Diarrhea/
Vomiting |
Rare |
Rare, except in younger population up to 25% have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea |
Sore Throat |
Often |
Often |
The common cold and flu are upper respiratory infections caused by a virus and antibiotics will not work in treating them. Both illnesses are contagious and can be spread from one person to another by droplets from coughing or sneezing.
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Prevention
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Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and properly dispose
of facial tissues.
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Avoid touching your nose and eyes
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Avoid prolonged exposure to persons
with colds
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Clean environmental surfaces with virus-killing disinfectant frequently
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Get enough sleep, drink plenty of fluids
(4-8 glasses of water/day), eat a balanced diet, exercise, avoid stress
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Dress appropriately when going outdoors.
If chilled from a fever avoid bundling up as this may increase body temperature
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Take Ibuprofen 400mg 3x/day or Acetaminophen 650mg every 4-6 hours.
Do not take aspirin!
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Use cough syrups, decongestants, cough drops or throat lozenges if
you have a cold
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