Having a cold or Flu?
The cold and flu are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different types of viruses.
Flu symptoms usually come on quickly (within 3-6 hours) and consist of a fever, body aches, dry cough, and extreme tiredness. Cold symptoms are less severe and people experience a stuffy nose, productive cough, slight tiredness, and limited body aches.
Flu Virus
Influenza A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year …
Symptoms
|
Symptoms |
COLD |
FLU |
| Fever | Rare | Usually Present |
| Aches | Slight | Usual, often severe |
| Chills | Uncommon | Fairly common |
| Tiredness | Mild | Moderate to severe |
| Sudden Symptoms | Symptoms appear gradually | Symptoms can appear within 3-6 hours |
| Coughing | Hacking, productive cough | Dry, unproductive cough |
| Sneezing | Common | Uncommon |
| Stuffy nose | Common | Uncommon |
| Sore throat | Common | Uncommon |
| Chest Discomfort | Mild to moderate | Often severe |
| Headache | Uncommon | Often present |
Avoid Getting a Cold and Flu
Wash your hands often. You can pick up cold germs easily, even when shaking someone’s hand or touching doorknobs or handrails.
Avoid people with colds when possible.
Sneeze or cough into a tissue and then throw the tissue away.
Clean surfaces you touch with a germ-killing disinfectant.
Don’t touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. Germs can enter your body easily by these paths.
A flu shot can greatly lower your chance of getting the flu.
What to do then?
Drink plenty of fluids.
Get plenty of rest.
Use a humidifier — an electric device that puts water into the air.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco
Antibiotics rarely help
Medicines
| If you want to: | Choose medicine with: |
| Unclog a stuffy nose | Nasal decongestant |
| Quiet a cough | Cough suppressant |
| Loosen mucus so that you can cough it up | Expectorant |
| Stop runny nose and sneezing | Antihistamine |
| Ease fever, headaches, minor aches and pains | Pain reliever (Analgesic) |
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