When you experience discomfort, a sore throat, dizziness, sneezing, or a mild fever, in most cases, you might think you have a cold. It’s only after taking cold medication for two days without improvement that you may suspect you have contracted the flu.
Colds and flu share many similar symptoms, which often leads to mistaken treatments resulting in a severe flu infection that attacks the body deeply. Conversely, there are times when you may only have a mild cold but believe you have the flu, thinking “the flu takes 9 days to recover, no need for medication!”
When the body’s immune system is weakened, an untreated cold can lead to serious complications such as strokes or nerve inflammation.
In children, when a person experiences discomfort along with diarrhea, it can confuse adults about the child’s illness. You can rely on the following distinctions between a cold and the flu to take appropriate preventive measures.
Cold
– Causes: From various types of viruses.
– Time of easy infection: At any time during the year.
– Virus transmission route: Through the air via fingers, nostrils, and throat.
– Duration: Up to 2 weeks.
– Fever occurrence: Sometimes
– Body aches: Sometimes.
– Headache: Sometimes.
– Sore throat: Mild and intermittent.
– Cough: Not frequent.
– Fatigue: Sometimes.
– Nausea or dizziness: May occur.
– Risk of developing bronchitis or pneumonia: Yes.
– Treatment: Take cold medication as prescribed by a doctor. It is advisable to complete the full course of medication even if symptoms improve to prevent a relapse. Those with a history of stomach ulcers should find the appropriate medication to avoid side effects.
– To prevent spreading: The infected person should wash their hands frequently and use tissues to cover their mouth when coughing (each tissue should be used only once).
Flu
– Causes: Influenza virus A or B.
– Time of easy infection: Late autumn and mid-winter.
– Virus transmission route: Through the air via fingers, nostrils, and throat.
– Duration: Approximately 2 days.
– Fever occurrence: Almost always presents with high temperature.
– Body aches: A typical symptom, especially when the flu is severe.
– Headache: Frequent.
– Sore throat: Prolonged, worsens without intervention.
– Cough: Usually appears after a sore throat.
– Diarrhea: Rarely occurs.
– Nausea: Rarely occurs.
– Risk of developing bronchitis: Yes.
– Treatment: Take medication as prescribed by a doctor, simultaneously addressing cough, runny nose, sore throat, and body aches. Prevent the progression to throat or bronchial inflammation.
– To prevent spreading: Wash hands thoroughly, use multivitamins to boost the body’s immune system.
By Trung
