A Cold or the Flu? Use These 8 Symptoms to Find Out

It’s the holiday season, but, unfortunately, it’s also cold and flu season. You can take steps to prevent getting a cold or the flu by washing your hands frequently with warm soapy water, avoiding contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces, and getting a flu vaccine. However, sometimes these steps aren’t enough.

Colds can happen at any time throughout the year, whereas flu outbreaks tend to be seasonal. In the United States, seasonal flu activity generally peaks between late December and early March. In order for the flu vaccine to be effective, it needs to be administered early enough for the body to react to it and produce protective antibodies before being exposed to the virus. These antibodies develop within two weeks of receiving a flu vaccine (so get your vaccine now, if you haven’t already!).

Symptoms

Determining whether you are sick with the flu or with a cold helps identify the appropriate treatments to relieve your symptoms and return you to good health. Unfortunately, these illnesses often have similar or identical symptoms, which can make it difficult to identify which illness is ailing you. Colds are milder respiratory illnesses than the flu, so colds generally don’t last as long as the flu can, but both illnesses can lead to more serious complications like sinus congestion and infection (colds and flu), bronchitis (flu), ear infections (colds and flu), and pneumonia (flu).

Colds

The first symptom you generally experience with a cold is a sore throat, which usually lasts for 1-2 days. Following the sore throat are a runny nose, congestion, and a cough. Although uncommon, it is possible for adults to experience a slight fever with a cold (cold with a fever is more common in children than in adults). Cold symptoms generally last for about one week, with the illness being contagious for the first three days. If, after one week, your symptoms have not improved, see a physician because you may have a bacterial infection.

Flu

Symptoms of the flu develop quickly and are typically more severe than cold symptoms. People with the flu will have a fever, headache, and muscle aches and soreness. They may also experience a sore throat, congestion, and cough. Most of these symptoms will start to improve (gradually) over 2-5 days, but the flu can leave you feeling “under the weather” for a week or longer. If you notice shortness of breath or have a fever that goes away for a day or two before returning, see a physician – these are signs of pneumonia.

Is it the flu or a cold?

Since many flu and cold symptoms are similar, the best way to determine which illness you have is to monitor your body temperature. The common cold rarely causes a fever over 101°F, but the flu typically starts with a 100°F-102°F fever. The differences – and similarities – between the two illnesses are outlined in the following table:

Treatment

Two of the most important things you can do to help your body recover from a cold or the flu are to rest and stay nourished (being properly hydrated is included in this, too!). Being well-rested and well-nourished/hydrated provides your body with the best environment to fight off the invading virus. Do your best to eat well and drink enough hydrating fluids while you are sick, even if you are having discomfort while swallowing (from a sore throat). If you need to, try making nutritious smoothies or purée your food so that you can consume items that are gentle on your throat and nourishing to your body.

Decongestants and pain-relieving medication (analgesics) can help relieve the symptoms of either a cold or the flu. If you are experiencing a cough or sore throat, soothing medication and cough suppressants can be used. However, if you are experiencing a productive cough (thick mucus is being loosened and/or moved due to your cough), suppressing it will hinder your body’s ability to recover and clear this “gunk” from your airway. In some cases of the flu, your doctor may decide to give you a prescription for antiviral drugs designed to prevent the flu virus from replicating within your body.

If you are absolutely miserable with cold or flu symptoms, it’s not a bad idea to see your doctor, since he or she can rule out more serious illnesses and prescribe you medications and treatments to relieve your specific symptoms. Definitely see a physician if you have:

• a fever that lasts more than three days (could indicate a bacterial infection)
• severe pain while swallowing (not mild discomfort caused by a sore throat; pain could indicate strep throat)
• persistent coughing for 2-3 weeks (could indicate bronchitis; postnasal drip, sinusitis, or asthma may also result in persistent coughing)
• persistent congestion and headaches: pain around the eyes and face with thick nasal discharge (could indicate sinusits)