Prehlad simptomi

Customer question:

What are the symptoms of a cold, and how do they differ from the flu? Anonymous customer's question

Pharmacist's answer:

Since the common cold and the flu share many symptoms, it is difficult to distinguish between them based on symptoms alone. However, special tests can determine whether you have the flu or a cold. A cold is a milder respiratory disease than the flu itself.

While cold symptoms can make you feel sick for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite sick for several days or weeks. The flu can also cause serious health problems like pneumonia and hospitalizations.

What are the symptoms of a cold?

Cold symptoms usually start with a sore throat and usually go away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth day. Fever is occasional in adults, but it is possible in a mild form. Children have a fever with a cold more often than adults.

The nose is full of watery nasal discharge for cold symptoms for the first few days. Later it becomes denser and darker. Dark mucus is normal and usually does not mean you have developed a bacterial infection, such as a sinus infection.

Cold symptoms usually last up to a week in total. During the first three days, you are also contagious when you have cold symptoms. After that, you can pass your cold on to other people, so stay home and rest. If your cold symptoms do not improve after a week, you may have a bacterial infection, which means you may need antibiotics.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and appear quickly. Flu symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches, and cough. Most flu symptoms gradually improve within two to five days, but feeling exhausted for a week or more is not unusual.

A typical flu complication is pneumonia, especially in young, older adults or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice difficulty breathing, tell your doctor. Another common sign of the flu is a fever that returns after a day or two of absence.

Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter the body through the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch one of these areas with your hand, you can become infected with the virus, so it is essential to protect your hands from germs by washing them frequently to prevent flu and cold symptoms.

If you already have flu or cold symptoms, it is essential to call your doctor if you also have any of the following severe symptoms:

• Persistent fever: A fever that lasts more than three days may be a sign of another bacterial infection that needs to be treated.

• Painful swallowing: While a sore throat from a cold or flu may cause mild discomfort, severe pain may indicate a sore throat that requires medical attention.

• Persistent cough: If the cough doesn't go away after two or three weeks, it could be bronchitis, which may need an antibiotic.

• Persistent congestion and headaches: When colds and allergies cause congestion and blockage of the sinus passages, they can also cause a sinus infection (sinusitis). If you suffer from eye and facial pain combined with thick nasal discharge, you may have a bacterial infection and most likely need an antibiotic.

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