The flu is often confused with the common cold, some even say that the flu is a bad cold. But this is not true, although both diseases are caused by viruses, the flu and the common cold are two different diseases.
In this article, we will understand the differences between the Cold And Flu so that you know how to identify its symptoms and how to deal with them.
The common cold is a mild infectious disease that can be caused by such a wide variety of viruses that there is no vaccine to prevent it. Influenza, although it is also a contagious disease, is a disease that benefits from an adequate vaccine every year to help us fight viruses that can cause disease.
Anyone over the age of six months can benefit from the flu vaccination, as long as it is not contraindicated in their specific case.
What Are The Differences Between Cold And Flu?
To distinguish the flu from the common cold, its symptoms will help us determine what kind of disease it is. In colds, nasal congestion is common, when we feel a stuffy nose, and rhinitis, when we feel distemper coming out of our nose. Sneezing and sore throats are also common.
Flu, on the other hand, has a rapid onset with symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, exhaustion, headache and body aches. There may be common symptoms between a cold and the flu, such as a runny nose, cough or sore throat, but it is the sum of these that will tell us which of the two diseases is at work.
A cold is usually uncomplicated and usually clears up within a week, although it can be prolonged, but usually does not require medical advice. The flu, which can last from 7 to 15 days, is a disease that requires more attention, especially if the patient belongs to one of the high-risk groups, who should consult their doctor if they suspect they have the flu.
What are the symptoms of Cold?
The symptoms of a common cold vary from person to person. They can include:
- A blocked or runny nose
- A sore throat
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Watery eyes
- A headache
- More mucus than normal
What are the symptoms of Flu?
The flu is much worse. Symptoms can include:
- Cough. Chest dry and ticklish or full of mucus.
- Sore throat. Like a cold, a sore throat can be the first symptom of the flu.
- Nasal congestion. This may be due to inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
- Headache. They almost always come with the flu. They are usually caused by fever, dehydration and even nasal congestion.
- Temperature. Your body is fighting a flu infection and your temperature is above 37.2°C.
- General pains in the body. This is a sure sign that you have not only a cold, but also the flu. Rest, drink plenty of water and treat your symptoms with CODRAL.
What are the Different Causes of Cold And Flu?
The common cold is an infection that can be caused by a virus known as a rhinovirus. “Rhino” comes from the Latin word for “nose” as it tends to affect the upper respiratory tract, including the nose.
Interestingly, this has nothing to do with cold climates! It comes from other people’s germs. It’s just that when it’s cold, people tend to be closer to each other and more likely to share germs.
Flu is a highly contagious virus called influenza. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, the virus spreads into the air, where the next person can easily catch it.
Treatment Of Flu And Cold
As regards the treatment of flu and cold, in both cases antibiotics are not recommended, as they are useless against viral infections. Since colds and flu often present several symptoms at the same time, treatment with cold or flu medicines that combine several active ingredients is recommended.
And, in addition, decongestants, analgesics, cough suppressants or mucolytic can be used. In any case, it is worth consulting with our pharmacist to find out which of these cold or flu combinations is the most appropriate for dealing with this set of annoying symptoms.
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