Regardless of the temperature, whether it is winter or summer, flu and cold go hand in hand and do not hesitate to appear. What facilitates the spread of viruses that cause these and other such respiratory diseases is the crowding of people in poorly ventilated places.
The symptoms are similar, but contrary to what many people think, the flu is not a stronger cold but a more serious disease that if not properly cared for, can develop into pneumonia.
There is no specific exam to detect if it is flu or cold. Symptoms usually make clear the severity of the problem after 24 hours.
So a simple tip to know the difference between flu and cold is to keep an eye out: if you have to stay in bed, it's flu.
To dispel doubts about such diseases, one must understand the differences between one and the other:
The flu
Cause: It is caused by the influenza virus.
Duration: Lasts seven days or more
Symptoms: It causes severe discomfort, body aches, nasal congestion, mild cough, sneezing and high fever, which can reach 40ºC and last for two or three days.
Cold
Cause: May be caused by various types of viruses.
Duration: Lasts about four days or less
Symptoms: Causes symptoms that are much milder than those of the flu and which usually disappear on their own: mild body aches, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, no fever or moderate
How to treat flu and cold
Despite the differences between flu and cold, the guideline in both cases is to rest, eat lightly, drink plenty of fluids, and not self-medicate. Harmless as it may seem, taking any medicine without medical advice can make the virus more resistant and cause infections.
In case of flu, see a doctor to find out which pain reliever and antipyretic are ideal to alleviate the symptoms. Respect the period prescribed by the doctor for the use of medicines, even if the symptoms have disappeared within a few days.
How to tell the difference between a cold and the flu | Kaiser Permanente (April 2024)
- Winter, Prevention & Treatment, Colds & Flu
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