It's Cold and Flu Season - Do You Know the Difference Between the Two?

The change of the season brings on the cold and flu season. It seems that everyone you speak to is either coming down with, or just getting over a sickness.

The symptoms of the common cold and influenza to share some of the same characteristics and this has caused a lot of confusion as to being able to tell the difference between the two. Do you ride out your sickness just hoping that it is the common cold and not the more serious influenza or do you call your doctor and schedule an appointment? It's hard to always know.

If you go to a drugstore and walk down the "cold and flu" isle, your confusion will not be cleared up. Because the symptoms of the common cold and influenza can be similar, the pharmaceutical companies have lumped both together with products for "severe cold and flu". Although the symptoms can seem similar, they are not the same.

The Common Cold

We'll start with the three most common symptoms of the common cold. They are nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and runny nose. Occasionally you will have a soar throat with a cold but it shouldn't be a red looking soar throat. As for a fever, older children and adults usually range from no fever to a slight rise in temperature. It is common for infants and toddlers to have a fever in the 101 to 102 range.

What is important to remember is that although you may have some body aches, changes in appetite and tiredness, the common cold is primarily a head cold. The major symptoms usually last about seven days but lingering effects such as a cough could last for an additional week.

Influenza

The flu comes on very suddenly. Both adults and children will have a severely raised temperature ranging from 102-106 (adults on the lower end). Along with the fever, malaise, a flushed face, and severe body aches are generally the first symptoms of the flu. Vomiting and dizziness are also common symptoms. The fever will very commonly last for about 2 days but it is not uncommon to run a fever for up to 5 days.

After a few days of the flu, the symptoms that are felt all through out the body will begin to subside. That is usually when an increase in the respiratory symptoms will be seen. The influenza virus can settle in any part of the respiratory tract. This would produce symptoms that are similar to the common cold with the exception of nasal discharge and sneezing.

Another difference is that unlike the common cold's soar throat, the flu's soar throat would cause it to become red and inflamed looking. The cough that is associated with the flu is a dry, hacking cough. This cough and the tiredness associated with the flu can lasts for weeks after all of the other symptoms have passed.

When Do I Call The Doctor?

When you are experiencing either a severe cold or the flu it can be kind of confusing as to when the doctor needs to be called. As anyone who has experienced either the cold or flu can tell you, you always feel like it may be a little more serious than your "average cold or flu". But it's kind of tough to know what symptoms prompt a call to the doctor. Here are just a few of the symptoms to be on the look out for:

A fever over 102 F or any fever that lasts for a prolonged amount of time
If your cold lasts over 10 days
Pressure or pain in your chest
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Feelings that you are going to faint or actual fainting
Persistent and severe vomiting
Disorientation or confusion
Severe forehead or face pain
Soar throat, hoarseness, or a cough that won't go away

Although it is not necessary to see a doctor for a common cold or the flu it's important to be your own judge on whether or not you need to see the doctor. The common cold or the flu can cause secondary illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinus infections. If you feel that your symptoms are worsening or they are lasting longer than the normal amount of time it takes for these viruses to pass through your system go get checked out. It can't hurt.