The flu? Or Just a Cold?
When you�re getting sick, sometimes it�s hard to think of anything other than how awful you feel. During cold and flu season, it can be difficult to know � do you have the flu or a cold?
Below is a quick guide covering everything from causes to treatments for viral illnesses.
Causes
Different viruses cause the flu and the many varieties of the common cold. Viral illnesses are far more common during the winter months than respiratory illnesses caused by bacteria.
Severity and Complications
In general, the flu is more severe than a cold, and the symptoms are much more intense. Colds are usually much milder than the flu, and people with colds usually have symptoms of stuffy or runny noses. It�s very rare for colds to result in serious health problems, like pneumonia or bacterial infections, or require hospitalization. However, the flu can cause all of these things, and is associated with some very serious complications.
Symptoms
The symptoms of the flu can include a fever, feeling feverish or having chills, a cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Cold symptoms also include runny or stuffy noses, but there is typically no fever, and the symptoms feel much milder.
Cold symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter remedies and decongestants. Many cold medicines have ingredients that treat multiple symptoms.
Treatment
If you have the flu, antivirals prescribed within 48 hours of symptoms by a healthcare provider can help lower the fever or decrease symptoms. There are also home remedies that calm symptoms, but they do not cure the flu.
A common cold will usually go away by itself, without complication. The flu will typically do the same, but individuals with moderate to severe cases of the flu should keep an eye on their symptoms. Some cases of the flu cause more serious respiratory issues, like pneumonia, which may require further treatment or hospitalization.
Prevention
Stay safe this cold and flu season by washing your hands regularly, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and getting a flu shot at The Little Clinic. There is no vaccine against the common cold, but avoiding close contact with many people during the season of illness is a great way to avoid airborne germs.
Flu Season and The Little Clinic
Kroger and The Little Clinic have a great reason for you and your family to stop by our clinics to receive a flu shot. For every flu shot administered this season at The Little Clinic or Kroger Pharmacy, Kroger will donate one meal to the Feeding America network of food banks through its One Shot/One Meal Initiative.
To learn more about the One Shot, One Meal program or to find a clinic near you, visit www.TheLittleClinic.com.