Is It A Cold? Or Is It Flu?

[Guest guest]

just from the symptoms you usually can't decide whether it's the flu, I've read.

Most flu-suspects aren't confirmed by virological tests.

[Guest guest]

Is It A Cold? Or Is It Flu?

The Early Show: Dr. Holly Distinguishes Between The Symptoms

(CBS) When the holiday season rolls around, so does the cold and flu

season. So, how do we know what's ailing us?

On The Early Show Friday, medical contributor Dr. Holly of

CBS station WCBS-TV in New York broke down the symptoms to help give

you an idea:

Which is more common?

The common cold is just that: much more common! In the United States

every year, people get a billion colds. Adults get between

two-and-four, and kids get between six-and-ten.

The flu is more rare, but more severe.

How can we tell the difference between them?

Both are viruses, but the symptoms are different.

The common cold usually starts with a sore throat, runny nose,

sneezing, and then a cough; usually, adults don't get much of a fever

a cold, but kids can.

The flu can have some of the same symptoms as the common cold, but

it's most dramatic. The symptoms are fever, body aches and fatigue.

I often tell my patients, " If you have a cold, you feel sick; if you

have the flu, you feel incapacitated. " People just feel like they were

hit by a truck.

What about treatment?

With a cold, it's all about time -- and chicken soup!

But if you have the flu, there are things you can do.

There's a quickie test you can get at your doctor's office to see if

you have the flu. He or she takes a quick swab of the inside of your

nose, puts it in a vial with a testing liquid in it and, 20 minutes

later, you get the results.

If you catch the flu, within the first 48 hours of symptoms,

medications like Tamiflu and Relenza can be used to shorten the length

of the symptoms. They're not a cure, but they can make you feel better

faster.

Do antibiotics help?

Antibiotics do absolutely nothing for the common cold or flu. However,

they may be used for what we call " secondary infections. " If you have

a cold and aren't starting to get better in five days, you may have

developed a sinus infection or bronchitis. With a sinus infection,

your nose stays stuffed up, and often there is dark mucous and face

pain. Bronchitis can cause a chronic, wet cough. These illnesses can

be treated with antibiotics.

When do you need to call your Doctor?

If you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever, severe

headaches or symptoms that last five days.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/12/earlyshow/health/main4664982.shtml

[Guest guest]

I am sure you are right, but that is why I thought the article might

be worth posting.

>

>

> just from the symptoms you usually can't decide whether it's the

flu, I've

> read.

> Most flu-suspects aren't confirmed by virological tests.

>