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Cold vs. Flu

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease.htm

The cold and the flu are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the cold. These two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, and it is hard to tell the difference between them based on the symptoms alone. The flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. Individuals with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Every year in the USA, on average 5% to 20% of the population get the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu. Individuals at higher risk for serious flu conditions are older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions such as heart problems, asthma, or diabetes. The cold is more prevalent among children, and seem to be related to lack of resistance to infections. Young children can also get the cold by coming in contact with other children in day-care centers and schools. Children have about six to ten colds in a year. Adults average about two to four colds a year, although the range varies widely. Women age 20 to 30 have more colds than men, possibly because of the closer contact with children. People older than 60 years old have less than one cold a year.

The flu occurs in winter between November to as late as May. The cold occurs during fall and winter, usually beginning in late August or early September, with the incidence of colds increasing slowly for a few weeks and remaining high until March or April, when it declines. This variation may be related to the opening of schools and cold weather, which prompt people to spend more time indoors and increase the chances of spreading the viruses from person to person.

Flu
•  Fever (usually high)
•  Headaches
•  Extreme tiredness
•  Dry cough
•  Sore throat
•  Cough (hacking cough)
•  Runny or stuffy nose
•  Muscle aches
•  General aches, pains (slight)
•  Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur but are more common in children

Cold
•  Stuffy nose
•  Sneezing
•  Sore throat
•  Chest discomfort (mild/moderate)
•  Fatigue, weakness (quite mild)
•  Fever (rare
•  Headache (rare)

Complications of the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

The flu viruses and the cold can be spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Sometimes individuals can become infected by touching something the flu viruses are on and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. The symptoms of the cold usually begin two to three days after infection and can last from two to 14 days, but two thirds of the people recover in a week. If symptoms last for more than two weeks, they may be the result of an allergy rather than the cold.

The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. Other prevention methods are good health habits, like covering your cough and washing your hands often. There also are antiviral flu drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu.

To protect others from getting sick, avoid contact with people who are sick and when you are sick keep your distance from others. Stay home from work, school, and errands and rest when you are sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods.


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