What are the symptoms of different colds and flu?
The similarity of symptoms of the common cold and flu are obvious. It often happens that a man wakes up with a headache, worried about his aching muscles, malaise, sore throat. Signs of this nature does not necessarily indicate the flu, they may be manifestations of a cold. Both diseases have some similarities and some differences. Cold has a milder course; on average, the illness lasts a week. The flu is a lot of hassle: when this disease worsens the mood, sometimes manifested weakness.
The flu lasts longer, its symptoms are bothering a person from a few days to 2-3 weeks.
Colds resolve with appropriate treatment, the flu can cause more serious diseases, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
Symptoms of colds and flu
The disease manifests itself in the following way: at first day a person experiences unpleasant sensations in the throat, on the third day they pass. After that, the nose is laid, there is a cough, which also runs on third or fourth day. The common cold in an adult may not be temperature, mainly to her predisposed children. In the presence of the disease from the nose appear transparent separation, they gradually become thick and dark. When the mucus becomes dark in color, this is an indication that bacterial infection is not. The duration of a cold is about a week, at this time, the man is the source of infection. In order not to infect others, it is recommended to be at home and as often as possible to relax. If the cold persists for several days, perhaps was the accession of infection, the removal of which is possible with antibiotics.
Sometimes signs of cold are mistaken for the symptoms of allergic rhinitis or sinusitis. If the disease is fast enough, for example, in a week, we can conclude that the patient caught a common cold. To confirm a particular diagnosis, it is recommended immediately after the first symptoms come on reception to the doctor. Flu symptoms manifest themselves more clearly (unlike the signs of a cold), SARS tolerated by the body heavier. The characteristic symptoms of acute respiratory infections is sore throat, aching muscles, nasal congestion and cough. Most of the symptoms of SARS weakens after 2-4 days. If a person has a disease of the heart or lungs, there is a risk of developing pneumonia. This dangerous disease canto appear in the elderly and in children. If the flu you feel like you have shortness of breath, should immediately inform the doctor. The characteristic symptoms of pneumonia are the periodic increase and decrease in temperature.
The flu or a cold: how to identify the disease?
Each person is useful to know the symptoms of flu and the common cold. So, it will be easier to distinguish diseases from each other. First you need to measure the temperature. The flu can have all the signs of a cold, as a result of people not having medical training, can confuse these disease. When flu and cold nose happens laid, in addition to this, there are coughing, General weakness and malaise.
If a person is sick with a cold, the body temperature does not rise above the 38.4° C. the flu viruses aktiviziruyutsya, resulting in a manifest weakness, the mood of the patient deteriorates significantly. At cold body temperature is low, the flu, it is 38-39° C (often increased in young children).
During a cold in humans, virtually no headaches, in the case of flu it manifests itself often. For colds a person experiences weakness and slight discomfort, this happens periodically. In the case of flu weakness is very strong. If a person has contracted a cold, clearly a symptom like stuffy nose, the flu, the nose can be clean. If a person is sick with the flu, he feels severe discomfort in the chest. To avoid seasonal influenza, it is necessary to make a vaccine. In order to avoid both diseases often need to wash their hands, avoid contact with infected.
Possible complications
When the first symptoms of the disease should immediately consult a doctor. If the signs of the flu was joined by persistent fever, it may indicate a bacterial infection that needs to be urgently treated. In both diseases the person is painful swallowing, in the case of a cold, it delivers a mild discomfort, angina pain becomes unbearable. If the cough with proper treatment it does not disappear after 2 weeks, this may indicate bronchitis. To eliminate this complication you will need treatment with antibiotics. To cure asthma, use of steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators.
If a particular disease occurs with persistent and severe headache, impaired edema fluid from the sinuses, this could be a symptom of sinusitis. If there is pain on the face and around the eyes, as well asthick mucous discharge from the nose is yellow or green, these symptoms last more than a week, so it's a bacterial infection, for which treatment needs antibiotics. The flu or lingering cold you may need urgent medical attention (especially if the patient suffers from strong pain in the chest, head, shortness of breath, consciousness disorder). Urgent medical help is needed, if a person is blue in the face, trouble breathing, drowsiness, fever, rash.
As a preventive measures can be advised to frequently wash hands with soap under warm water under the tap they should be kept for 20 seconds. Thus, you will be able to wash off all the germs that have appeared on the skin. For prevention it is possible to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. It usually comes from December through March. If you decide to vaccinate, it is better to do in October.