Despite the cold and the flu being very common illnesses, many still get confused as to whether they are inflicted with one or the other. Read on to learn to distinguish between these two familiar health conditions.
If you catch a cold you will experience one or more of these symptoms: headache, sneezing, runny or blocked nose, sore throat, and cough. The symptoms usually start going away after a few days, but you might end up with a chesty cough that lasts a couple of weeks, or at times even longer.
On the other hand, flu or influenza is more critical than a simple cold. In this case, you may experience the symptoms of a cold, but you will also most likely suffer other symptoms like aching limbs, weak muscles, fever, and shivering or chilling. Flu can make you feel really ill and leave you feeling under the weather for weeks at the least.
Unfortunately, there is no instant cure for colds or flu. Rest and only rest is the best cure. However, there are medicines that will relieve you of your symptoms. Paracetamol is useful for relieving aches and pains and reducing fever. There are also other medicines that are effective for relieving the symptoms; ask your pharmacist for advice and recommendations. It is important to realize that antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. Viruses cause colds and flu, so antibiotics can’t do anything against them. Other things that will help you feel better include:
- A healthy diet
- Plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
- A lot of rest
Fever in children can be dangerous so it’s important to keep the body temperature down. You can do this by giving your child liquid paracetamol and sponging his body frequently with tepid (not hot, not cold) water.
Occasionally, flu can lead to a more serious illness. See your doctor if you go through any of the following:
- A constant high temperature, or if you have a child whose high temperature is not responding to paracetamol and sponging, or a child who is not eating or drinking
- Chest pains or difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- Painful, swollen glands
- A skin rash
- Neck stiffness
- A cough that produces blood or thick, colored mucus
