Here's a quick guide to help you tell the flu from a bad cold:
| Symptom |
Flu |
Cold |
| Fever |
Usually present, high (102-104°F or 38-41°C);
lasts 3-4 days |
Uncommon |
| Headache |
Very common |
Uncommon |
| Aches and pains |
Common and often severe |
Slight |
| Fatigue and weakness |
Can last up to 14-21 days |
Mild |
| Extreme exhaustion |
Very common at the start |
Never |
| Stuffy nose |
Sometimes |
Common |
| Sneezing |
Sometimes |
Common |
| Sore throat |
Sometimes |
Common |
| Chest discomfort, cough |
Common |
Mild to moderate, hacking cough |
For most people, the flu will last one or two weeks, but can last for up to
one month. The main complications are bacterial infections of the sinuses or
lungs (pneumonia). Symptoms associated with these complications include fever,
chills, and yellow, green, or brown sputum or nasal discharge. Children are
prone to ear infections like otitis media.
People in nursing homes are at an increased risk of complications from flu
because they may have weak immune systems and often have other medical problems
that put them at a higher risk.
People with asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, angina,
or congestive heart failure are
also at a higher risk of developing bacterial infections like pneumonia.
In American studies, influenza hospitalization rates for children under 5 years
of age were second only to the rate in people over 65 years of age. School-aged
children have the highest infection rates of all both during and between epidemics,
and are particularly likely to be infected early in the season. Households with
school-aged children have infection rates 30% above the norm.