FreeMD® Upper Respiratory Infections Symptoms: Cold Versus Flu

Upper Respiratory Infections

cold versus flu

Upper Respiratory Infections Symptoms: Cold Versus Flu

The following table compares the symptoms of upper respiratory infection and influenza.

Symptoms	Cold	Influenza
Fever	rare	very common; 102-104 degrees
Headache	rarely severe	common and often severe
Body aches	mild if present	very common and severe
Weakness or fatigue	mild if present	very common, may last 3 weeks
Extreme exhaustion	very rare	common early symptom
Sore throat	common - gradual onset	sometimes
Nasal congestion	very common	sometimes - abrupt onset
Sneezing	very common	sometimes
Cough	mild hacking cough	common; can be severe
Chest congestion / pleurisy	mild - gradual onset	common; can be severe
Nausea and vomiting	rare	sometimes
Complications	sinusitis; otitis media	pneumonia, dehydration

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Last Updated: Nov 5, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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