cold or flu

February/March 06

by Gail Carlson, MPH, Ph.D.
School of Medicine, UMC

Your head hurts, your eyes are watery, your muscles ache and your cough is getting worse. You feel like climbing into bed, turning on the vaporizer and taking something to relieve the symptoms. But is that going to do the trick? The common cold, the flu and pneumonia can have similar symptoms. Mistaking one for the other can mean serious complications.

n The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract. It's caused by a virus. Actually there are 200 viruses that can cause a cold. On average, adults will have 2 to 4 colds a year. A cold almost always starts with a scratchy throat and stuffiness in the nose. Gradually other symptoms appear—sneezing, a mild sore throat, sometimes a minor headache and coughing. Runny noses are a common feature of colds. On the other hand, fevers are not common in adults. Colds are usually spread by hand-to-hand
contact with another cold sufferer or by sharing objects like utensils, towels, glasses and telephones.

n The flu is an infection in the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs caused by influenza viruses A and B and is easily spread through the air by sneezing and coughing. Fever, chills, headache, achy muscles and fatigue all seem to come at once when you have the flu. Vomiting and diarrhea isn't common. Typically, when adults have these types of symptoms, they have been exposed to some other virus or bacteria.

n Pneumonia is an infection of the bronchial tubes and tiny air sacs in the lungs and is usually caused by a virus or bacteria. Bacterial pneumonia is serious and can be deadly. Symptoms begin suddenly with severe chills and a high fever. This infection typically follows a cold or flu. The person starts feeling better and then the symptoms suddenly worsen. Health care providers usually prescribe antibiotics to treat pneumonia. Older adults and persons with conditions such as diabetes, asthma or cancer are most at risk of developing pneumonia.

Unless you have other health problems, wait a while before going to your health care provider if you suspect you have a cold. Antibiotics won’t help and neither will the new antiviral medications. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of liquids. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the home. If you choose, take an over-the-counter medication to relieve the symptoms.

If the flu strikes, home treatment is also a good approach for healthy adults. You may also be able to take antiviral medications, but they must be taken within two days of the on-set of flu symptoms to be effective. Antiviral medications don’t "cure" the flu but make the symptoms less severe. Your health care provider can help you decide.

Is it a Cold, the Flu or Pneumonia?
	Cold	Flu	Bacterial Pneumonia
Fever	Rare in adults	Usual Abrupt onset*	Usual Abrupt onset**
Headache	Rare	Usual	Usual
Aches & Pains	Rare	Usual, often severe	Usual
Fatigue/Weakness	Slight	Extreme	Slight to Moderate
Runny, Stuffy Nose	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
Sneezing	Usual	Sometimes	Sometimes
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
Chest Pain Cough	Mild to moderate hacking cough	Common, can be severe	Severe cough & stabbing chest pain ***
* Fever tends to be high 102-104 o F and lasts 3 to 4 days. Fever tends to be high 101-105 o F. * Difficult painful breathing and a cough with thick rust, green or yellow mucus are common signs.

Prevention is still the best policy. Getting your flu shot is a must, but if for some reason you can't get a flu shot, getting a pneumonia shot can protect you against this potential serious complication of the flu. It’s a one-time shot for anyone 65 years of age or older.

n Eat right, get plenty of rest, exercise and learn how to manage stress. Good health helps your immune system fight off illnesses.

n Wash your hands often, particularly when you are around people with colds.

n Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when you touch something that is contaminated with germs and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

n Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

n Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Protect others by keeping your distance when you are sick!

n Sanitize utensils, toys, equipment and furniture. This can help reduce the spread of colds and reduce your risk of developing pneumonia.

This article provides information for educational purposes. Always follow the advice of your health care provider!

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Kris Jenkins jenkinsk@missouri.edu
Regional Specialist
Human Environmental Sciencs
Last revised: 03/18/09