This breakdown is courtesy of the Kern County Department of Public Health

When you wake up sneezing, coughing, and have that achy, fever, can't move a muscle feeling, how do you know whether you have flu or cold symptoms?

It's important to know the difference between flu and cold symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks. The flu can also result in serious health problems such as pneumonia and even hospitalizations.

What are common cold symptoms?

Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.

How long do cold symptoms last?

Cold symptoms usually last for about a week. During the first three days that you have cold symptoms, you are contagious. This means you can pass the cold to others, so stay home and get some much-needed rest. If cold symptoms do not seem to be improving after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics.

What are common flu symptoms?

Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Flu symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. The flu is caused by a variety of influenza viruses. Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Another common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.

Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms

Is it flu or cold symptoms?

How do you know if you have flu or cold symptoms? Take your temperature, say many experts. Flu symptoms often mimic cold symptoms with nasal congestion, cough, aches, and malaise. But a common cold rarely has symptoms of fever above 101 degrees F. With flu symptoms, you will probably have a fever initially with the flu virus and you will feel miserable. Body and muscle aches are also more common with the flu.

Symptom	Cold	Swine Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all swine flu cases. A temperature of 100ºF or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the swine flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold	A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the swine flu
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Sever aches and pains are common.
Stuff Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week	Stuffy nose is not commonly present.
Chills	Chills are uncommon.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills
Tiredness	Tiredness is faily mild.	Tiredness is moderate to severe.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present.	Sneezing is not very common.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The swine flu has a rapid onset within 3 to 6 hours. The swine flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon	A headache is very common, present in 80% of cases
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present	Sore throat is not commonly present, but appears sometimes
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate	Chest discomfort is often severe

The spread of the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person when people with influenza cough or sneeze. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. It is critical that people wash and sanitize their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub to help minimize the spread of germs.

Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

What are the symptoms of this virus?

Symptoms include fever, cough and runny nose, body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and you become ill with influenzalike symptoms, contact your primary health care physician.

Try to avoid going to the Emergency Room unless you are critically ill. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

How can you minimize the spread of germs:

If you are sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that you limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work, school or other public places.

In addition the CDC recommends: • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. That is how germs spread.

What are the emergency warning signs for ADULTS?

•Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
•Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
•Sudden dizziness
•Confusion
•Severe or persistent vomiting
•Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

What are the emergency warning signs for CHILDREN?

Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

What should I do if I get sick? If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and you become ill with influenzalike symptoms, contact your primary health care physician. Try to avoid going to the Emergency Room unless you are critically ill. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

Seasonal Flu Versus H1N1