Cold or Flu? How to tell the difference
It's December. You have a calendar full of activities, a to do list that seems to never get shorter, and now you have a headache, a stuffy nose, and a sore throat. So how do you figure out if you have a cold or the dreaded flu?
Pay attention to your symptoms so that you can explain them to your health care provider.
Do you have a fever? With a cold you may have a low fever or no fever. A high fever, 101 to 104 degrees is a sign of the flu.
Are you having problems with diarrhea or vomiting? These are not symptoms of a cold, but they can accompany the flu (especially H1N1).
How is your energy level? If it is normal or you have minor fatigue, it might be a cold. If you feel extremely exhausted, you might have the flu. Symptoms of either type of flu may include a fever of 100.5 F degrees or more and cough, headache, body aches, or running nose. Patients with these symptoms may be advised differently depending on other factors such as the patient's other medical conditions.
Compare cold symptoms and flu symptoms
When to seek immediate medical attention
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