Cold and flu season can be a miserable time filled with crumpled Kleenex strewn about and a diet consisting of tea and cough drops. During this period of time, staying healthy can be challenging. With the common cold and the flu sharing so many similar symptoms, you might have difficulty telling the difference between the two.
What is the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu?
There are many shared symptoms between a common cold and the flu and both illnesses are caused by completely different viruses. Although they have similar symptoms, the flu’s symptoms are typically much more intense than that of a cold. Additionally, a common cold is much less dangerous. The flu can progress to further, more serious health issues. With the symptoms of a cold and the flu being so similar, special tests from your primary care practice are often the only way to tell the difference, especially when you are in the early stages with symptoms still developing.
Symptoms of the Common Cold
There are multiple viruses that can cause a cold. However, the most common is the rhinovirus. Symptoms can often be easily alleviated using common home remedies and over-the-counter cold medications. Although it depends on an individual’s health, the average cold’s symptoms usually start to subside after a few days. The most common slow-occurring symptoms of a cold include:
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Coughing & sneezing
- Body aches and headaches
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Mild fever
Facts About the Common Cold:
- Although a common cold typically lasts about a week, it can cause symptoms for much longer in children, adults, or individuals with poor health. If you have any pre-existing chronic conditions (such as asthma or heart problems) you should reach out to your primary care provider to ensure that you receive proper care that caters to your health condition.
- Adults experience a common cold 2-3 times a year on average.
- In the Fall of 2022, Atlanta hospitals have seen a surge in colds and flu-like illnesses. This has caused the average emergency room wait times to exceed three hours.
- Children can catch a cold 6-10 times a year.
- Although the common cold can be easily treated, there is no cure for it. Your doctor will provide the most effective medication for a cold, as well as education on how to manage the symptoms.
- The incubation period of the common cold is 1-3 days. This means that you might not feel the symptoms for a few days after exposure. Symptoms will gradually become more severe as the viral load increases.
Although there are many over-the-counter medications that can help, the most effective medications for viral illnesses are given by a doctor. If you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, contact Excelsior Healthcare to book an appointment and find relief.
You Should See Your Doctor for a Cold if:
- You are experiencing a high or persistent fever of over 100.4 F (38C).
- Fever returns after initially subsiding.
- The individual with cold symptoms is under 5 years old, or over the age of 65.
- You are pregnant.
- You are experiencing confusion or are light-headed.
- The lips or face have a bluish hue.
- Experiencing severe headaches.
- Suffering from severe stomach pain.
- Having difficulty breathing.
- Suffering from pain in the ear.
- You have pre-existing, high-risk medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).
Symptoms of the Flu Can Be More Severe Than a Cold
The flu is caused by an entirely different virus called the influenza virus, which has four variations. These symptoms, many in common with the cold, are typically much more intense. Additionally, the flu can lead to further health complications.
Unlike the cold, the flu has many more treatments, such as antivirals and vaccines, to help reduce the intensity of the symptoms and prevent the spread or contraction of the influenza virus. Common flu symptoms, which can come on much faster than those of the common cold, can include:
- Body aches or muscle aches
- Difficulty breathing
- Fevers and chills
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Increased fatigue and lack of energy
- Dry Coughing
- Vomiting and Nausea
- Diarrhea[1]
Facts About the Flu
- The best way to prevent yourself from contracting the flu is to get a yearly flu shot.
- When you have the flu, you are considered contagious from the day before you have symptoms, to roughly a week after you initially get sick.
- In Georgia, the flu season begins in the early days of October and can continue into May.
- According to the CDC, Georgia is one of seven states with a higher-than-average rate of influenza and similar illnesses in 2022, with more than 650 patients hospitalized from early October-November.
- Individuals over 65 years of age are more at risk for complications resulting from the flu.
- The incubation period for the flu is typically around 1-2 days. This means that symptoms can set in much faster than those of a common cold.
- There are many medications that your doctor can prescribe to treat the flu. For more information, ask your doctor about oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or peramivir (Rapivab).
Facts About Flu Vaccinations
- Due to the rapidly evolving nature of the influenza virus, the CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months get the flu vaccination every year.
- Since there has been a nationwide effort to reduce the spread of the influenza virus, only about 8% of Americans get the flu However, if Americans do not continue to get a flu shot, the percentage of those who catch the flu will certainly go up. It’s important to do your part to reduce hospitalizations and deaths from the flu by seeing your doctor for an annual flu shot and check-up.
- Flu shots are safe for pregnant people.
- Due to the widespread cases of the flu in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Public Health urges Georgians to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible.
Can the Flu be Dangerous?
Although the flu is not life-threatening on its own, it can weaken the immune system and lead to other health complications, which can be life-threatening. The complications that come with the flu, such as bacterial infection or pneumonia, can lead to hospitalization. Preventing the spread of the flu is a major public health initiative. In the US, the flu is the 9th largest cause of death, with over 50,0000 Americans dying from the flu. In 2021, Georgia had the second-highest flu rate in the nation. Much like the common cold, there is no cure for the flu.
Severe complications can occur from the flu. Contact your doctor or get emergency medical attention if you feel:
- Severe chest pain
- Severe headache
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Persistent vomiting
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Bluish skin color
You may have noticed that some healthy individuals are able to overcome the symptoms of the flu without professional medical care. However, it is recommended that you visit your primary care doctor if you are seeing the signs of the flu. With the help of your doctor, you can typically overcome the flu within two weeks. Remember, not every case of the flu is the same. If you think you don’t have the flu just because you don’t have a fever, it is still recommended that you see your doctor. Flu symptoms left untreated can lead to serious health complications including bacterial infections and other secondary infections due to a weakened immune system[2].
When the Flu Can Cause Serious Concern:
The common symptoms of the flu (fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, etc.) typically subside after a couple of weeks. However, there are certain symptoms that can cause a serious health concern. These symptoms cannot be ignored. Since the severity of these symptoms (along with the health complications that come with them) vary by age, let’s break this down by age group.
Serious symptoms for adults can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pains
- Dizziness & confusion
- Nausea and inability to stop vomiting
- Increased intensity of flu symptoms
Serious symptoms for children can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness, confusion, and inability to interact
- Difficulty eating & drinking
- Improved, followed by returning flu symptoms
- High fever
- Skin rash
Serious symptoms for infants can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty drinking fluids or eating
- Signs of dehydration, such as crying with no tears or fewer wet diapers
If your infant, child, or any adult including yourself are experiencing the symptoms outlined above, then it is crucial that you are admitted to the ER as soon as possible. These are signs of a severe illness, or serious health conditions (pneumonia, dehydration, bacterial infections, sepsis, and even inflammation of the organs) that will need to be treated immediately. In some cases, if left untreated, these symptoms are life-threatening.
How Can I Prevent a Cold or the Flu?
The prevention of the common cold and the flu begins with hygiene. This includes washing your hands regularly. When you wash your hands properly, and at the right times, then you can prevent the spread of these viral illnesses.
From there, it’s important to take additional preventive measures. If you know someone, work with someone, or see somebody that is sick, keep your distance from them. If you are experiencing these symptoms yourself, then it is important that you wear a mask, cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing, and keep your distance from other individuals.
To prevent spread or contraction of the flu, visit your doctor for a flu shot.
Experiencing Cold & Flu Symptoms? Call Excelsior Healthcare Today
It isn’t always easy to tell if you are suffering from a cold or the flu. Pay attention to the severity of your symptoms. If you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms in Norcross, GA, Alpharetta, GA, and Duluth, GA, or surrounding areas, do not hesitate to contact Excelsior Healthcare for treatment and symptom relief.
At Excelsior Healthcare, we are dedicated to your health and wellness. Our goal is to keep you and your family happy, healthy, comfortable and safe. Additionally, we provide physical exams, primary healthcare services, urgent care, and so much more. Don’t suffer from the symptoms for longer than you have to! Our experienced, certified staff is here for you during this cold and flu season.
