Зміст
A stuffy nose, fever, general weakness of the body – many of us interfere with normal functioning in winter. Sometimes we call these symptoms the common cold, and sometimes the flu. Yet these concepts are not synonymous and refer to two completely different conditions of the disease. So how do you know if you are a cold or flu? There are some common symptoms that make them easy to distinguish and therefore more effective to treat.
The first symptoms of colds and flu
The first sign of a cold is usually a severe sore throat, which makes it difficult to swallow or even speak. This condition usually lasts several days and is accompanied by a runny nose and shortness of breath. A cold usually lasts for about a week.
The flu is completely different. First, all cold symptoms are much more serious. Added to this are fever, headache, muscle aches and often vomiting and diarrhea.
Cold or flu: Fever
Fever does not always occur with a cold, and when it does, it is usually called a low-grade fever, not exceeding 38 degrees Celsius. When dealing with the flu, the body temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius and is accompanied by chills and profuse sweating.
Cold or flu: Muscle pain
The headaches, back pain, or chest pain associated with a cold are not very severe and usually only last a few days. It’s another matter when we are sick with the flu. Muscle and joint pains affect the entire body and are felt throughout the entire period of infection. They often interfere with normal functioning, and even bed rest is very painful.
Cold or flu: Fatigue
With colds and flu, we feel tired, we don’t have the energy to do basic household chores, we are exhausted and lacking any motivation. However, the feeling of fatigue with a cold is moderate and does not completely limit our activity. On the other hand, the flu is accompanied by severe exhaustion, which sometimes makes even a simple toilet impossible. This is such a serious weakness that it can cut us off from reality for up to a week.
Cold or flu: Complications
An improperly treated cold can lead to possible complications such as sinusitis or otitis media, but this is rare. The risk of complications from influenza is much greater. Inflammation of the sinuses, bronchitis and even pneumonia are common consequences of untreated or improperly treated flu.
Duration of illness
A cold usually doesn’t last more than a week. In most cases, fever and muscle aches go away after a few days. A runny nose can stay with us longer, but it does not bother us too much and does not paralyze our whole life. Influenza lasts much longer – some symptoms last several weeks, especially coughing and feeling faint
