For Physicians. By Physicians.™
For Physicians. By Physicians.™
The CDC provides information on how to discriminate between the flu and the ‘common cold’. Both conditions are viral in origin. Co-infection with bacteria is possible and in the case of infection with influenza virus, can lead to significant and serious complications.
| Influenza | Cold | |
|---|---|---|
| Symptom onset | Abrupt | Gradual |
| Fever | Usual | Rare |
| Aches | Usual | Slight |
| Chills | Fairly common | Uncommon |
| Fatigue, weakness | Usual | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Sometimes | Common |
| Stuffy nose | Sometimes | Common |
| Sore throat | Sometimes | Common |
| Chest discomfort, cough | Common | Mild to moderate |
| Headache | Common | Rare |
Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Patient may experience just a few or many
Note: Not everyone with flu will have a fever
The following are at high risk of complications related to influenza virus infection
Note: To see the comprehensive list of high risk flu categories (and more), see the CDC Emergency Advisory below in the ‘Related ObG Topics’ section
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