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Flu Virus or Cold Virus
Compare Cold and Flu Symptoms
How can I tell whether I have a cold or the flu?
Some of the symptoms of a cold and flu are similar, but
the two diseases can usually be distinguished.
Typically, colds begin slowly, two to three days after infection
with the virus. The first symptoms are usually a scratchy, sore
throat, followed by sneezing and a runny nose. Temperature is
usually normal or only slightly elevated. A mild cough can develop
several days later.
Symptoms tend to be worse in infants and young children, who sometimes
run temperatures of up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
Cold symptoms usually last from two days to a week.
Signs of the flu include sudden onset with a headache, dry cough, and
chills. The symptoms quickly become more severe than those of a
cold.
The flu sufferer often experiences a "knocked-off-your-feet" feeling,
with muscle aches in the back and legs. Fever of up to 104 degrees
Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) is common. The fever typically
begins to
subside on the second or third day, and then respiratory symptoms like
nasal congestion and sore throat appear. Fatigue and weakness may
continue for days or even weeks.
"The lethargy, achiness and fever are side effects of the body doing its
job of trying to fight off the infection," according to Dominick Iacuzio,
Ph.D., influenza program officer with the National Institutes
of Health (NIH).
Is It a Cold or the Flu?
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Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
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fever |
rare |
characteristic, high (102-104 F) lasts 3-4 days |
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headache |
rare |
prominent |
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general aches, pains |
slight |
usual; often severe |
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fatigue, weakness |
quite mild |
can last up to 2-3 weeks |
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extreme exhaustion |
never |
early and prominent |
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stuffy nose |
common |
sometimes |
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sneezing |
usual |
sometimes |
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sore throat |
Common |
sometimes |
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chest discomfort, cough |
mild to moderate |
common; can become severe hacking cough |
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(Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) |
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Bird Flu Origin | Bird Flu Symptoms | Cold or Flu? | Spreading Bird Flu | Pandemic? | Safe to Eat Chicken? | Bird Flu Strains | Bird Flu Origins
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