The Cold and the Flu: How to tell the difference

Because the common cold and flu - both the seasonal and the new swine flu -- have similar symptoms and usually occur during the same time of the year,  it is often hard to tell them apart. In general, the symptoms of the flu are worse and begin with much greater intensity. Furthermore, the symptoms of a cold are centered in the nose and throat (nasal stuffiness, sneezing, runny nose. and occasional throat irritation). When sick with the flu, the symptoms are from all over the body (headache, fever, body aches, exhaustion, cough)

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Onset	gradual, over a couple of days	rapidly, sometimes within three to six hours.
Fever	Rare	Characteristic, high (100-102 degrees F) lasts 3-4 days
Headache	Unusual	Prominent and often intense
Body Aches and Pains	Rare	Usual and often severe
Fatigue, Weakness, Exhaustion	Mild if present	Prominent at the onset of symptoms and can last up to two weeks.
Runny, Stuffy Nose	Common. The symptoms of the common cold are mostly centered in the nose and throat.	Occasionally. When sick with the flu the symptoms are all over the body
Sneezing	Common	Occasionally
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough	Mild to moderate; hacking cough	Common; can become severe
Complications	Sinus congestion or earache	Bronchitis, pneumonia, neurological complications
Prevention	Good hygiene, avoid others with colds	Annual flu vaccination
Treatment	Only temporary relief of symptoms	Antiviral drugs if given within the first 24-48 hours of onset:  oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamavir (Relenza)

As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician. Please read our full disclaimer.