Cold & Flu Symptoms: How to Tell the Difference
Georgians are in the heart of flu season right now, as it extends from October to May each year. If your little one is showing symptoms of the flu, it’s important to reach out to your Primary Pediatrics doctor right away. However, many people have mistaken the flu as a cold, as they have very similar symptoms. Discover the difference between cold and flu symptoms.
Flu Symptoms
Although the flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, the flu tends to produce more severe symptoms. In addition to cold-like symptoms such as a sore throat or cough, the flu sets itself apart due to its additional symptoms:
- Chest discomfort
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Headache
- High fever
- Muscle aches
A tried-and-true sign of the flu is how quickly the symptoms appear. Often, the onset of the flu is abrupt while the onset of the common cold is gradual. Both are contagious which is why it’s important to bring your child to his pediatrician for diagnosis and prescription medication.
Cold Symptoms
While the common cold is generally not as feared as the flu, it’s not something you should ignore. This illness can spread very quickly through air-borne bacteria. If your child has the following symptoms, it’s possible he could have the common cold:
- Lack of energy
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
To protect your family from contracting the cold or flu, make sure everyone washes their hands with hot water and soap, wipe down door handles with an antibacterial spray, cough or sneeze into a tissue, and take immune-boosting supplements.
How Primary Pediatrics Can Help
Dealing with the common cold or the flu can make for a bad day! It’s important to treat this sickness as quickly as possible so your little one can start feeling better and no one else in the family gets sick. If your child is showing cold or flu symptoms, bring him into Primary Pediatrics right away. Your friendly pediatrician will make an accurate diagnosis and get your little one on a treatment plan.