Is it a Cold or the Flu?

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Fever	Rare	Usual; high (100°F to 102°F, occasionally higher, specially in young children);lasts 3 to 4 days
Headache	Rare	Common
General Aches, Pains	Slight	Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness	Sometimes	Usual; can last up to 2 to 3 weeks
Exhaustion	Never	Usual; at the beginning of the illness
Stuffy Nose	Common	Sometimes
Sneezing	Usual	Sometimes
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough	Mild to moderate; hacking cough	Common; can become severe

Treatment	Antihistamines Decongestants Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines	Antiviral medicines— see your doctor

Prevention	Wash your hands often with soap and water; avoid close contact with anyone with a cold	Annual vaccination; antiviral medicines—see your doctor
Complications	Sinus congestion Middle ear infection Asthma	Bronchitis, pneumonia; can worsen chronic conditions; can be life-threatening. Complications more likely in the elderly, those with chronic conditions, young children, and pregnant women