How to tell cold, flu symptoms apart is difficult
January 22, 2013
By Staff
How to tell the flu from a cold is difficult, because the illnesses share many symptoms, including fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches and runny nose.
Cold
Cold symptoms tend to develop gradually and include:
- Runny, stuffy nose
- Scratchy throat
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Mild fever of less than 102 degrees
Flu
Flu symptoms can appear suddenly and include:
- Nausea
- Cough without phlegm
- Chills and body aches
- Sweating
- Fever of more than 102 degrees (not everybody with the flu develops a fever)
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting (more common in children)
- Diarrhea (more common in children)
Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, everydayHealth, University of Arizona
Other Stories of Interest: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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