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Is It a Cold or the Flu?
Below are cold symptoms and flu symptoms. See the differences and similarities between a cold and the flu.
|
Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
| Fever | Rare | Characteristic, high (100-102°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 |
None | Annual vaccination; amantadine rimantadine or oseltamirvir (antiviral drugs) |
|
Treatment |
Only temporary relief of symptoms |
Amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir or zanamavir within 24-48 hours after onset of symptoms |
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD
© 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
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