Flu Symptoms or Cold?

Feeling under the weather? Are you wondering whether it's symptoms of flu or a cold?

Because flu symptoms are quite similar to cold symptoms, it's often hard to tell the difference. But there is one clue about flu that can help you know. When you have the flu, you feel flu symptoms sooner than you would cold symptoms, and they come on with much greater intensity.

What symptoms will I have with flu?

With the flu, you may feel very weak and fatigued for up to 2 or 3 weeks. You'll have muscle aches and periods of chills and sweats as fever comes and goes. You may also have a stuffy or runny nose,

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Fever	Rare	Characteristic, high (100-102 degrees F); lasts 3-4 days
Headache	Rare	Prominent
General Aches, Pains	Slight	Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness	Quite mild	Can last up to 2-3 weeks
Extreme Exhaustion	Never	Early and prominent
Stuffy Nose	Common	Sometimes
Sneezing	Usual	Sometimes
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough	Mild to moderate; hacking cough	Common; can become severe
Complications	Sinus congestion or earache	Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening
Prevention	Good hygiene	Annual flu shot or FluMist
Treatment	Only temporary relief of symptoms	Antiviral drugs (oseltamivir or zanamavir) within 24-48 hours of onset – best if within 24 hours

 

Summary- Influenza (flu) usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:  

fever   cough   sore throat   body aches   headache   chills   fatigue.   Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.

In addition, if you've had the flu for a few days and then get worse, call your doctor immediately. These symptoms may indicate a secondary or bacterial infection with flu. Call your doctor if:

·         Your fever returns

·         Your fever lasts for longer than three days

·         You have difficulty breathing

·         You cannot stop vomiting and can't keep liquids down

·         You wheeze when you breathe

·         Your flu symptoms are worsening each day

If you have a chronic medical condition such as heart disease, asthma, COPD, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS, it's important to call your doctor when the first flu symptoms appear as flu might increase the risk of serious problems associated with your chronic condition. For instance, if you have asthma and flu, you may need to boost your asthma medications and asthma inhalers to prevent an asthma attack. Your doctor can instruct you.

Also, seek emergency medical help if you or a loved one is extremely short of breath or has a severe headache or stiff neck

Calling for Medical Advice

Contact your primary care physician for medical advice if you or a loved one is
experiencing any of the following symptoms during a pandemic:

• Infants under three months with a rectal temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher.

• Fever in persons not responding to fever medicines within six hours.

• Fever lasts more than five days.

• Fever that went away for one to two days, then comes back.

• Chronic disease patients (heart or lung disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer patients,

   etc) with complications

• Signs of severe dehydration (no urine in 12 hours, dry mouth, no tears) and

  the sick person has stopped taking liquids.

• Signs of respiratory problems such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or

   wheezing, grunting, nasal flaring, and chest wall retractions.

• Cough that produces blood

• Seizures.

• Severe ear pain or severe muscle pain.

• Change in mental status.

• Vomiting for more than an hour.

• Psychological emergencies – person is potentially harmful to self or others

Note: Individuals with a chronic disease or condition, and women who are pregnant,should be in contact with their medical provider during a pandemic.

When to Call 911

Call 911 if you cannot reach your medical provider and the sick adult or child has a problem listed above, or if the sick adult or child has any of the following symptoms:

• Severe respiratory distress (struggling for each breath, unable to speak or cry,

  severe retractions, cyanosis)

• Slow shallow, weak breathing (respiratory depression)

• Stopped breathing (apneic episode)

• Bluish lips, tongue or face now (cyanosis)

• Shock suspected (very weak, limp, not moving, too weak to stand, pale cool skin)

• Other life-threatening emergency such as first-time seizure

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/when-call-doctor-about-flu  http://www.denverhealth.org/portal/AboutDH/SeasonalandH1N1FluUpdate/tabid/2898/Default.aspx

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/epr/Public/H1N1/HomeHealthcare/Calling%20for%20Medical%20Advice.pdf