Differences Between the Common Cold, Seasonal Flu, and H1N1 Symptoms
Getting Sick? What's Wrong?
During Flu season, you want to be careful that you don't assume you have the common cold to find out you're much sicker than you thought. It's a good idea that you know the basic symptoms of common illnesses so that you can make sure to get yourself or someone else medical assistance before the symptoms worsen.
For parents, it's always good to know the signs of illness in case your child gets sick, but the same goes for adults and the elderly. You want to make sure that when you're sick, you get treated before it worsens and develops into something worse.
Although, the symptoms may vary per person as to the severity, below you'll find the basic signs of the cold, flu, and H1N1.
Symptom
| Common Cold
| Seasonal Flu
| H1N1 (Swine Flu)
|
|---|---|---|---|
Fever
| Rare
| Common
| Fever is usually present in up to 80% of cases, with fever being over 101F
|
Coughing
| A hacking, productive (muscus-producing) cough is often present
| A non-productive (dry and hacking/non-mucus producing) cough is often present
| A non-productive (dry and hacking/non-mucus producing) cough is usually present
|
Aches
| Slight body aches and pains may be present
| Moderate body aches are common
| Severe aches and pains are common
|
Stuffy Nose
| Stuffy nose is commonly present, but typically resolves within a week
| A runny nose is commonly present
| Stuffy nose is not commonly present
|
Chills
| Not common
| Mild to moderate chills
| 60% of cases experience chills
|
Tiredness
| Fairly mild tiredness
| Moderate tiredness that can most likely be described as lack of energy.
| Moderate to severe tiredness
|
Sneezing
| Common
| Common
| No common
|
Symptom Onset
| Cold symptoms will usually developing over a few days
| Flu symptoms tend to develop over a few days, and generally include a flushed face, loss of appetite, dizziness, vomitting/nausea, and diarrhea. Symptoms usually last about 4-7 days.
| Rapid onset of symptoms within 3-6 hours. H1N1 hits hard and fast. Includes sudden symptoms like high fever, diarrhea, and aches and pains that generaly last 4-7 days.
|
Headache
| No common
| Fairly common
| Very common in about 80% of cases
|
Sore Throat
| Common
| Common
| Not common
|
Chest Discomfort
| Mild to moderate chest chest discomfort
| Moderate chest discomfort, but if it turns severe you'll want to seek medical assistance fast and soon
| Often severe chest discomfort
|
The Cold, Flu, & H1N1
Common Cold- A contagious, viral infection that occurs in the upper respiratory system, the common cold is one of the most common illnesses during the fall and winter seasons. In most cases, the illness will go away on its own, but in many cases, you want to take medication to help ease the symptoms that you're experiencing. There is no cure for the common cold, as it is an infectious disease, but the illness is rarely fatal. For the most part, if you can keep the symptoms under control, you can beat the cold within a week or so. Although, you may experience a few lingering symptoms, the overall cold will have been beaten and you would have only spent a few bucks at the pharmacy.
Seasonal Flu- In most cases, the flu may treat itself and run its course, but if you develop the flu, it's a good idea to get properly treated. In most cases a doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs to help your body and immune system beat the symptoms of the illness. The seasonal flu is contagious, which is why if you have the flu, you need to quarantine yourself until your doctor says that you are no longer contagious. Death is more frequent in related to the flu than it is the common cold, but the symptoms can be controlled.
H1N1- A contagious viral infection that may also be referred to as the Swine Flu. This illness can be much more severe that the flu. It is necessary that H1N1 is treated if symptoms appear. A doctor can run a few tests to determine the H1N1 diagnosis, and the prescription antibiotics are necessary in order to treat the illness. There are cases, where medical treatment is not needed, but at the same time most cases of H1N1 require medical assistance, treatment, and in some cases hospitalization. The swine flu has caused many deaths, which is why it is important to seek medical assistance if you think that you have H1N1.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the
advice in this article should in no way replace that of a licensed doctor. Consult your doctor if you
think that you have the flu or H1N1. Also, consult your doctor if you feel that over-the-counter medications are not helping your symptoms, as a proper diagnosis will lead you to a proper treatment.
