The information below was furnished by Los
Angeles County to assist employees
on how to recognize the difference between the common cold
and the seasonal or swine flu.
|
Symptom |
Cold |
Seasonal or Swine Flu |
| Fever |
Fever is rare with a
cold. |
Fever is usually
present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases.
A temperature of 100ºF
or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the
flu. |
|
Coughing |
A hacking, productive
(mucus-producing) cough is
often present with a cold. |
A non-productive
(non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with
the flu (sometimes referred to as a dry cough) |
| Aches |
Slight body aches and
pains can be part of a cold. |
Severe aches and pains
are common with the flu. |
|
Stuffy Nose |
Stuffy nose is commonly
present with a cold and typically resolves
spontaneously within a week. |
Stuffy nose is not
commonly present wit the flu. |
|
Chills |
Chills are uncommon
with a cold. |
60% of people who have
the flu experience chills. |
|
Tiredness |
Tiredness is fairly
mild with a cold. |
Tiredness is moderate
to severe with the flu. |
|
Sneezing |
Sneezing is commonly
present with a cold |
Sneezing is not common
with the flu. |
|
Sudden Symptoms |
Cold symptoms tend to
develop over a few days |
The flu has a rapid
onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and
includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and
pains. |
|
Headache |
A headache is fairly
uncommon with a cold. |
A headache is very
common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases. |
| Sore
Throat |
Sore throat is commonly
present with a cold. |
Sore throat is not
commonly present with the flu. |
| Chest
Discomfort |
Chest discomfort is
mild to moderate with a cold. |
Chest discomfort is
often severe with the flu. |