Determining if you have a cold or the flu can be difficult for some people. Learn how to spot the differences with this handy guide!
You have a runny nose, a nagging cough, a fever and a pounding headache, but what is making you feel absolutely rotten? Figuring out whether you are dealing with the common cold or the winter flu is often difficult to tell.
Cold symptoms vs. flu symptoms: Finding the root of the problem
Both a cold and the winter flu, or influenza, are respiratory infections, but both are caused by different viruses. A cold can be sparked by any one of more than 200(+) distinct viruses, while there are only a few viruses which cause the flu.
As a basic guiding rule, the flu is typically more intense and virulent that the common cold. In some situations, it is important to know if you have the flu, since it is more likely to lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, a bacterial infection or a prolonged period of hospitalization.
Cold symptoms vs. flu symptoms: Identifying the differences
All of the following are symptoms shared by both cold and flu:
- Fever.
- Runny nose.
- Fatigue.
- Nagging headache.
- Muscle aches.
Although both colds and the winter flu share some symptoms, certain indicators are common with each individual infection.
It can be difficult to definitively identify if you have a cold or flu because of the overlap in symptoms. It may be helpful to remember that a runny, stuffy nose is more often an indicator of the common cold, along with a throat that feels more scratchy than painful. The common cold is also more prone to causing fits of sneezing, a fever of roughly 102 degrees Fahrenheit and watery eyes.
Winter flu symptoms tend to be more severe than with a cold and will include a fever that is above 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The flu may also include nausea, an unproductive cough, chills, body aches, sweating and a lack of appetite.
In addition to examining your own symptoms, watching how they develop can give you a clue as to whether you are suffering from a common cold or the winter flu. Cold symptoms are slow and steady in their development, flu symptoms can hit suddenly and completely without waning to the victim.
The blogging team from http://www.drsmartphonemd.com is unable to offer direct medical advice regarding the identification of the common cold or a case of the winter flu, aside from pointing out the basic symptoms shared by each illness. We believe that readers should use our articles as the starting point to develop their own plan or treatment, moving forward from our site to look at appropriate medical information regarding the common cold and its symptoms. If a reader has questions or concerns, we do we do recommend calling a medical professional as soon as possible!
