How To Tell Whether You Have The Flu, A Common Cold, Or Allergic Rhinitis
Sometimes it's hard to tell allergic rhinitis apart from a common cold, or the common cold from the flu. A flu (a.k.a. influenza) is generally a more severe illness than the common cold, and although their symptoms may be similar, influenza and the common cold are caused by totally different types of viruses. Allergic rhinitis (a.k.a. hay fever) on the other hand is the least severe of the three. It occurs when a person with a sensitized immune system inhales an allergen such as pollen or dust which triggers the production of antibodies.
The chart below will help you determine whether you have the flu, a common cold, or allergic rhinitis in order for you to choose the best course of action to take.
Symptoms
| Flu
| Common Cold
| Allergic Rhinitis
|
|---|---|---|---|
fever
| often
| occasional
| never
|
headache
| usual
| usual
| sometimes
|
runny nose
| occasional
| often
| usual
|
dry cough
| often
| rare
| sometimes
|
sore throat
| often
| often
| never
|
sneezing
| never
| usual
| usual
|
muscle aches
| usual
| rare
| never
|
dizziness
| often
| rare
| rare
|
hoarse voice
| often
| rare
| never
|
tiredness
| often
| rare
| never
|
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Using The Chart
Now let's say you have a runny nose, you could have either three, right? But if you have a fever with your runny nose, then that rules out allergic rhinitis. And if you also feel tired and weak then you most likely have the flu.
And according to the chart, a flu is never associated with sneezing, so if you're spraying all over, you either have a cold or allergic rhinitis. Likewise, allergic rhinitis is never associated with a sore throat which happens often when you have the flu or a cold.
After determining whether you have a flu, the common cold, or allergic rhinitis, you should be able to better choose which treatment to apply.
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