Is It a Cold or the Flu
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| Fever | Rare | Characteristic, high (102-104°F); lasts 3-4 days |
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| Headache | Rare | Prominent |
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| General Aches, Pains | Slight | Usual; often severe |
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| Fatigue, Weakness | Quite mild | Can last up to 2-3 weeks |
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| Extreme Exhaustion | Never | Early and prominent |
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| Stuffy Nose | Common | Sometimes |
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| Sneezing | Usual | Sometimes |
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| Sore Throat | Common | Sometimes |
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| Chest Discomfort, Cough |
Mild to moderate; hacking cough |
Common; can become severe |
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Sinus congestion or earache |
Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening |
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None | Annual vaccination; amantadine or rimantadine (antiviral drugs) |
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Only temporary relief of symptoms |
Amantadine or rimantadine within 24-48 hours after onset of symptoms |
If you have any questions or comments on senior health nutrition, fitness, etc., go to the Senior Health Forum where we are talking about the following:
The information contained in these pages
is for educational / reference use only.
Sources:
NIAID
Graphics:
Public Domain
