Not sure if it’s a cold or the flu? According to the CDC, over 90% of flu-related deaths occur in people over the age of 65 – which means making the wrong assumption can put our vulnerable loved ones at risk. See the list of cold and flu symptoms compared below:
SYMPTOMS |
COLD |
FLU |
FEVER |
Fever is pretty rare with a cold | Fever is usually present with the flu. A temperature of 101°F or higher for 3-4 days is associated with the flu. |
ACHES |
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold | Severe aches and pains are common with the flu. |
CHILLS |
Chills are uncommon with a cold | Chills are fairly common in most flu cases. Chills and shivering are a normal reaction to a cold environment, but unexplained chills can also be a sign of the flu. |
TIREDNESS |
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. | Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu. It’s normal to feel tired at the end of a long day or when youd on’t get adequate sleep, but unexplained tiredness can be a sign of the flu. |
| SUDDEN SYMPTOMS | Cold symptoms are not sudden and develop over a few days. | The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. |
COUGHING |
A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold. | A dry, nonproductive cough is usually present with the flu. |
SNEEZING |
Sneezing is common with a cold. | Sneezing is not as common, but can accompany the flu. |
STUFFY OR RUNNY NOSE |
A stuffy or runny nose usually accompanies a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. | Stuffy or runny nose can be present with the flu. |
SORE THROAT |
Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. A sore throat refers to pain and inflammation in the throat area | Sore throat is not as common, but can be present with the flu. |
CHEST DISCOMFORT |
Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu. Chest discomfort refers to pain or abnormal sensations that you feel anywhere along the front of your body in your upper torso. |
HEADACHE |
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. | A headache is very common with the flu, present in up to 80% of flu cases. |
People At High Risk For Flu-Related Complications
For most people, the flu develops into a relatively mild illness. The flu is considered mild when infected person does not need medical care or antiviral drugs, and when they recover in less than two weeks. However, some groups of people are at high risk for developing flu-related complications, that can result in hospitalization or even death. People in these high-risk groups include:
- Adults 65 or older
- Children younger than 5 yrs old, and especially children younger than 2 yrs old
- Pregnant women
- American Indians and Alaskan Natives
- People with the following medical conditions: Asthma, neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, chronic lung disease, heart disease, blood disorders, endocrine disorders, kidney disorders, liver disorders, metabolic disorders, a weakened immune system, people younger than 19 years old who are on a long-term aspirin regimen, and people who are morbidly obese
For more information about cold and flu symptoms, or if you are concerned about flu symptoms in yourself or a loved one, please contact your primary care physician.
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