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Parenting Help
Is it a Cold or the Flu?
Colds and flu are both highly contagious and, in the initial stages, a bad cold and a mild case of the flu might seem alike. However, flu is a serious illness that can have life-threatening complications, unlike colds. Check this table for a comparison of the symptoms for each illness.
Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
| Fever | rare in adults and older children, but can be as high as 102o F in infants and small children |
usually 102o F, but can go up to 104o F and usually lasts 3 to 4 days |
| Headache | rare | sudden onset and can be severe |
| Muscles aches | mild | usual, and often severe |
| Tiredness and weakness |
mild | often extreme, and can last two or more weeks |
| Extreme exhaustion |
never | sudden onset and can be severe |
| Runny nose |
often | sometimes |
| Sneezing | often | sometimes |
| Sore Throat | often | sometimes |
| Cough | mild hacking cough | usual, and can become severe |
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