Flu or Colds: How Can You Tell? November 7
In a previous post, we shared with you how U.S. health officials have expressed that not everyone who develops swine flu is coming in to receive appropriate treatment. We have given our opinion that this may be due to the fact that the symptoms for common colds and the flu, as well as seasonal flu and swine flu, can be rather similar, and this probably has led to some people just dismissing symptoms as something else.
In order to help people discern exactly when they are only afflicted with colds and when they already have the flu, we would like to share a few tips. This knowledge is critical, as flu, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can be fatal.
If you are coming down with the flu, you will most probably feel lousy, and it will come as a surprise. One moment you seem okay, and then you can just wake up one morning and instead of feeling refreshed, you will feel sore and achy all over. You may experience sore throat, headache and fever, and they will come all at once.
Colds will not hit you in the same way. It will most probably come gradually, and the general symptoms will be runny or stuffy nose.
Another indication that the reason you are feeling so lousy is already the flu would be the onset of fever. While colds can also bring about fever, it is not a common symptom. The flu, on the other hand, will most likely be accompanied by fever of 100-102 degrees or higher.
If and when you realize you have the flu, how can you tell that it may be swine flu? We have always mentioned that swine flu and seasonal flu share the same symptoms. However, those who develop swine flu may also experience stomach-related problems such as vomiting and diarrhea over and above the common flu symptoms.
Tags: difference between flu and colds, flu or colds, flu versus colds, identify flu
Uri Gabbay Nov 8
The tips are reasonable and may be useful to distinguish between common cold and flu but may mislead in differentiate between pandemic (swine flu)and common flu. There are no clinical manifestations to distinguish between pandemic and seasonal flu, only laboratory. Hence, unless laboratory proves otherwise it should be considered swine flu for precautious measures. On the other hand even if a person had experience flu unless was laboratory proven to have pandemic (swine) flu H1N1 2009, once pandemic flu vaccination is available it is advised to get them. Dr. Uri Gabbay M.D, M.P.H, Epidemiologist.