Are you coming down with something? Use this chart to see if your symptoms are more like a cold or the flu. (You will need to see your doctor to find out for sure.)
|
Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
|
Fever |
Rare |
High (100-102 F) Can last 3-4 days |
|
Headache |
Rare |
Intense |
|
General Aches, Pains |
Slight |
Usual Often severe |
|
Fatigue, Weakness |
Mild |
Intense Can last up to 2-3 weeks |
|
Extreme Exhaustion |
Never |
Usual Starts early |
|
Stuffy Nose |
Common |
Sometimes |
|
Sneezing |
Usual |
Sometimes |
|
Sore Throat |
Common |
Common |
|
Cough |
Mild to moderate |
Common Can become severe |
|
Complications |
Sinus congestion |
Bronchitis, pneumonia |
|
Prevention |
Wash your hands well and avoid sick people |
Flu vaccine once a year Wash your hands well and avoid sick people Antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) |
|
Treatment |
|
Prescription treatments: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) within 24-48 hours after symptoms start Peramivir (Rapivab) for some cases; taken by IV |
