Colds, coughs, and the flu are a fact of life, especially during the cooler months in Anaheim. Most run their course with rest and home care, but it helps to know how a cold differs from the flu, how to feel better, and when symptoms are serious enough to be seen.
Cold or Flu? How They Differ
Colds and the flu are both respiratory illnesses caused by viruses, but they tend to behave differently. A cold usually comes on gradually and stays fairly mild, with a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and a cough. The flu, caused by the influenza virus, often comes on suddenly and hits harder, adding fever, body aches, chills, headache, and strong fatigue to the respiratory symptoms. Because both are viral, antibiotics do not treat them. Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms overlap, but a few patterns help tell them apart:
- Cold: runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild cough, usually little or no fever
- Flu: fever and chills, body aches, headache, marked tiredness, cough, and sore throat, often coming on quickly
- Cough: a normal reflex that clears the airways, which can linger for a week or two after other symptoms fade
A high fever, a cough that keeps getting worse, or feeling much sicker than a typical cold are reasons to pay closer attention.
How They Spread
Many different viruses cause colds, while influenza viruses cause the flu. They spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and by touching a contaminated surface and then your face. Crowded indoor settings and the fall and winter season make spread more likely, which is why handwashing and staying home when sick matter.
What You Can Do at Home
Most colds and mild cases of the flu can be managed at home:
- Rest and give your body time to recover
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
- Use over-the-counter remedies as directed for fever, aches, and congestion, choosing products appropriate for the person’s age and following the label
- Soothe a sore throat or cough with warm fluids and a humidifier
- Stay home to avoid spreading illness, and wash your hands often
Antibiotics will not help a viral cold or the flu and are not recommended for them.
Red Flags: When to Seek Care
Get medical care if you have a high fever or a fever that lasts more than a few days, a cough or congestion that keeps getting worse or does not improve after about ten days, an earache or sinus pain, or symptoms that improve and then suddenly return, which can signal a secondary infection. People at higher risk, including young children, older adults, those who are pregnant, and anyone with a chronic heart or lung condition or a weakened immune system, should be seen sooner.
Call 911 or seek emergency care for trouble breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, confusion, bluish lips or face, a severe or persistent high fever, or signs of dehydration.
How Anaheim Medical Group Helps
At Anaheim Medical Group, our urgent care team can sort out what is causing your symptoms and help you feel better faster. We offer same-day testing for the flu, strep throat, and COVID-19, which can guide treatment, and antiviral medicine for the flu works best when it is started early. We can also check for complications such as an ear or sinus infection or bronchitis. Walk in or call ahead. With same-day, walk-in care in Anaheim, you can be seen quickly when you are feeling miserable, and we will help you know when home care is enough and when more is needed. An annual flu vaccine remains one of the best ways to prevent the flu in the first place.