What Is the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu?

What is the difference between a cold and the flu? Did you know that adults get an average of 2-4 colds each year and children get an average of 8-10 colds per year.

Is it a cold or the flu?

Cold Flu Symptoms: Fever Rare Usual; high (100°F to 102°F; occasionally higher, especially in young children); lasts 3 to 4 days Headache Rare Common General aches, Slight Usual; often severe pains Fatigue, weakness Sometimes Usual; can last up to 2 to 3 weeks Extreme Never Usual; at the beginning of the illness exhaustion Stuffy nose Common Sometimes Sneezing Usual Sometimes Sore throat Common Sometimes Chest discomfort, Mild to moderate; hacking Common; can become severe cough cough Prevention Wash your hands often Annual vaccination; antiviral medicine - see your Avoid close contact with doctor anyone with a cold Wash your hands often Avoid close contact with anyone who has the flu Complications Sinus congestion Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life threatening Middle ear infection Asthma Bronchitis Reproduced from National Institutes of Health. (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/cold/sick.pdf).

Good Infection Control to Help Prevent Colds and Flu According to the CDC:  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.  Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.  Try to avoid close contact with sick people

And some additional recommendations:  Clean shared surfaces such telephones, computer keyboards, teaching materials and toys, areas used by students when trailing, etc…. with disinfectant wipes frequently  Cough or sneeze into your elbow (preferably not the side students may use during sighted guide)

What should you do if you think you have the flu?  If you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)  While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.  And of course do lots of hand washing, cleaning, use good infection control to prevent the spread to others Do You Have Questions? Please contact Mary Salvucci in Occupational Health or Health Services Staff.

The following websites are recommended for some additional good information:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu http://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do? topicKey=~J0bb48/DTX8uef&source=see_link (common cold in children information) http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/handstogether/ (handwashing video) http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=770473# (handwashing audio and video for children) http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/