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Nov 30, 2022 · How do you know if you have flu or cold symptoms? Take your temperature, say many experts. Flu symptoms often mimic cold symptoms with nasal congestion, cough, aches, and malaise.
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- Flu Treatment
- Overview
- How to spot the difference
- What is the common cold?
- How to treat a cold
- How to prevent a cold
- What is the seasonal flu?
- How to treat the flu
- When to call a doctor
- Staying healthy
Overview
Your nose is stuffy, your throat is scratchy, and your head is pounding. Is it a cold or the seasonal flu? Symptoms can overlap, so unless your doctor runs a rapid flu test — a quick check done with a cotton swab from the back of your nose or throat — it’s hard to know for sure.
Viruses cause colds and the flu. Both are respiratory infections. The simplest way to tell the difference is by looking at your symptoms.
If you have a cold, you’ll probably have symptoms like these:
•runny or stuffy nose
•sore throat
•sneezing
•cough
The common cold is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. According to the American Lung Association, more than 200 different viruses can cause the common cold. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the rhinovirus is most often the one that makes people sneeze and sniffle. It’s highly contagious.
Though you can catch a cold at any time of year, colds are more common during the winter months. This is because most cold-causing viruses thrive in low humidity.
Colds spread when someone who’s sick sneezes or coughs, sending virus-filled droplets flying through the air.
You can get sick if you touch a surface (such as a countertop or doorknob) that has recently been handled by an infected person and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. You’re most contagious in the first two to four days after you’re exposed to the cold virus.
Because a cold is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective at treating it.
However, over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs, can relieve congestion, aches, and other cold symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Some people take natural remedies, such as zinc, vitamin C, or echinacea, to prevent or relieve cold symptoms. The evidence is mixed on whether they work.
A 2015 study in BMC Family Practice found that high-dose (80 milligram) zinc lozenges could shorten the length of colds if taken within 24 hours of showing symptoms.
Vitamin C doesn’t seem to prevent colds, but if you take it consistently, it might lessen your symptoms, according to a 2013 Cochrane review. Echinacea hasn’t been shown to help prevent or treat colds. A 2017 study in BMJ found vitamin D helps protect against both colds and flu.
Colds usually clear up within 7 to 10 days. See a doctor if:
Avoidance
Because colds spread so easily, the best prevention is avoidance. Stay away from anyone who’s sick. Don’t share utensils or any other personal items, such as a toothbrush or towel. Sharing goes both ways — when you’re sick with a cold, stay home.
Good hygiene
Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often with hot water and soap to get rid of any germs you might’ve picked up during the day or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth when they’re not freshly washed. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands afterward.
Influenza — or the flu, as it’s better known — is another upper respiratory illness. Unlike a cold, which can hit at any time of year, the flu is generally seasonal. Flu season usually runs from fall to spring, peaking during the winter months.
During flu season, you can catch the flu in the same way you’d pick up a cold: By coming into contact with droplets spread by an infected person. You’re contagious starting one day before you get sick and up to 5 to 7 days after you show symptoms.
The seasonal flu is caused by the influenza A, B, and C viruses, with influenza A and B being the most common types. Active strains of influenza virus vary from year to year. That’s why a new flu vaccine is developed each year.
Unlike the common cold, the flu can develop into a more serious condition, such as pneumonia. This is especially true for:
•young children
•older adults
In most cases, fluids and rest are the best ways to treat the flu. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Over-the-counter decongestants and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, may control your symptoms and help you feel better.
However, never give aspirin to children. It can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.
Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs — oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or peramivir (Rapivab) — to treat the flu.
These drugs can shorten the duration of the flu and prevent complications such as pneumonia. However, they may not be effective if not started within 48 hours of getting sick.
If you’re at risk of complications from the flu, call your doctor when you first have symptoms. People at risk of serious complications include:
•people over the age of 65
•pregnant women
•women who are two weeks postpartum
•children under age of 2
•children under age 18 taking aspirin
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. Most doctors recommend getting the flu vaccine in October or at the very start of flu season.
However, you can still get the vaccine in late fall or winter. The flu vaccine can help protect you from getting the flu and can make the illness less severe if you do catch the flu.
To avoid picking up the flu virus, wash your hands often with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth. Try to stay away from anyone who has the flu or flu-like symptoms.
It’s important to adopt healthy habits to keep cold and flu germs at bay. You should always make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise, and manage your stress during cold and flu season and beyond.
Sep 19, 2023 · In healthy adults, symptoms of both viruses are generally mild and include a runny nose, headache, sore throat or a low-grade fever. So how can you tell whether you have a cold or RSV? Here are 3 signs to look for. You’re wheezing. A whistling sound when you breathe is called wheezing.
Apr 21, 2020 · You have a fever if your temperature is above 100.4°F (38°C). Depending on how high it is, you may need to call your doctor. A fever is the body’s way of battling an illness. Although...
Sep 27, 2022 · That’s typically a symptom that’s more common with a cold or RSV than with the flu or COVID. And chances are, if you have a cold, you won’t experience the body aches and fever that accompany an influenza or coronavirus infection. (RSV can cause a low-grade fever, though.) Members only.
- Rachel Nania
1. High Fever. A temperature that is higher than normal (97.5 to 98.9 degrees F) lets you know your body is fighting an infection. A high fever is typically not a cold or allergy symptom but...
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Nov 30, 2022 · Your cold or flu shouldn't make you short of breath or cause your chest to hurt. If that's happening to you, it could be a sign of a more serious problem, such as heart disease, asthma, or...
