How can I tell if I have a cold or the flu?
A cold and the flu cause many of the same symptoms. But a cold is generally mild, while the flu tends to be more severe. A cold often starts with feeling tired, sneezing, coughing and having a runny nose. You may not have a fever or you may run a low fever – just 1 or 2 degrees higher than usual. You may also have muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache. The flu starts suddenly and hits hard. You’ll probably feel weak and tired, and have a fever, dry cough, a runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and a sore throat. It usually takes longer to get over the flu than a cold.
What causes colds and the flu?
There’s no cure for a cold or the flu. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses. All you can do to feel better is treat your symptoms while your body fights off the virus.
Ways to treat your cold/flu symptoms
- Stay home and rest, especially while you have a fever.
- Stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, which can make cold symptoms worse.
- Drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit juices and clear soups. Fluids help loosen mucus. Fluids are also important if you have a fever because fever can dry up your body’s fluids, which can lead to dehydration.
- Don’t drink alcohol.
- Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve a sore throat. Throat sprays or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.
Should I take medicine for a cold or the flu?
No medicine can cure a cold or the flu. Medicine can, however, help relieve some of your cold or flu symptoms. Many cold/flu products are available without a prescription. See below for common ingredients in these products.
What’s in over-the-counter cold/flu medicines?
The ingredients listed below are found in many cold/flu medicines. Read labels carefully. If you have questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
- Analgesics relieve aches and pains and reduce fever. Examples: acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen.
- Antitussives tell your brain to stop coughing. Don’t take an antitussive if you’re coughing up mucus. Example: dextromethorphan.
- Expectorants help thin mucus so it can be coughed up more easily. Example: guaifenesin.
- Oral decongestants shrink the nasal passages and reduce congestion. Examples: phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine.
What can I do to keep from catching colds and the flu?
The viruses that cause colds and the flu are spread by hand-to-hand contact and by droplets release in the air from sneezes and coughs. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 10-15 seconds, and avoid touching your eyes and nose.
Should I call my doctor?
In most cases, you don’t need to see your doctor when you have a cold or the flu. However, if you have any of the symptoms listed below, call your doctor.
Call your doctor if you have:
- A cold that lasts for more than 10 days
- Earache or drainage from your ear
- Severe pain in your face or forehead
- Temperature above 101 degrees
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness, sore throat or a cough that won’t go away
- Wheezing