Do You Have Influenza or a Cold? Read Up on the Differences!

Being ill is difficult to manage. When dealing with an illness, it is important to know if it is the influenza or cold; the differences can be important. For those who are suffering from the flu, it is wise to budget more time to regain strength and overcome the symptoms of the illness.

For those with a cold, meanwhile, it can be reasonable to expect to be able to return to regular activities within a few days, if you have to take a break at all.

Influenza

For those suffering from the flu, a fever, headache and sore throat will affect the individual. This is usually accompanied by muscle aches and soreness. While most of the flu symptoms go away within a couple days, someone with the flu typically feels tired and worn down for a week or longer.

If the fever goes beyond three days, it is important to seek medical attention. An additional infection may be interfering with the body’s ability to fight off the flu.

Learn more: What is the Influenza Virus?

Cold

When dealing with a cold, the common first symptom is a sore throat, followed by runny nose, congestion and a cough. The sore throat typically goes away after a day or two. For the first few days of a cold, the nose tends to run with a thin, watery secretion.

Then, the nasal discharge tends to get thicker and darker. The duration of cold symptoms tends to be around one week.

For a cough that does not ease in severity within two weeks, a case of bronchitis may be the issue. This will require a visit to the doctor for antibiotics.

Meanwhile, a sore throat beyond mild discomfort is also an indication of more significant issues, and a trip to the doctor is warranted.

Main Differences

The main difference between the two illnesses is the onset of a fever. This is because a cold rarely comes with a fever, while the flu typically does include a fever. Meanwhile, the flu always comes with body aches and muscle soreness. A cold does not usually cause discomfort in the muscles and or aches throughout the body.

The duration is also a strong indication of which illness the individual is suffering from, as the flu tends to last significantly longer than a cold.

When considering influenza or cold: the differences can be slight but are important in determining which illness is plaguing the sufferer.

Treatment

Decongestants can be helpful to deal with symptoms of both cold and flu. For a cold, pain relievers and fever reducers can be useful to help the sufferer get back to normal activity.

Meanwhile, for a cold, the pain relievers and fever reducers over the counter may help deal with certain symptoms. However, recovery may occur faster if the sufferer goes to the doctor for a prescription for anti-viral medication.

Headaches that continue to occur, particularly those centering around the eyes, can be an indication of a sinus infection if paired with a thick nasal discharge.

This may require medical attention to be completely resolved, as some sinus infections are severe enough to warrant an antibiotic.

If you are worried about influenza, then it is important to consider preventative measures. One measure includes wearing an antibacterial facemask, which helps you avoid all the bacteria and other germs floating around the air when you go outside. This antibacterial facemask is also great for someone who recently got the virus, but still needs to go into work. The mask protects you and those around you.

Further Reading

• Is It a Cold or the Flu?

• Cold or flu?