|
Symptom
|
Cold
|
Swine Flu
|
|
Fever
|
Fever is rare with a cold.
|
Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
|
|
Coughing
|
A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
|
A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
|
|
Aches
|
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
|
Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
|
|
Stuffy Nose
|
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
|
Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
|
|
Chills
|
Chills are uncommon with a cold.
|
60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
|
|
Tiredness
|
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
|
Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
|
|
Sneezing
|
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
|
Sneezing is not common with the flu.
|
|
Sudden Symptoms
|
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
|
The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
|
|
Headache
|
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
|
A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
|
|
Sore Throat
|
Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
|
Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
|
|
Chest Discomfort
|
Chest discomfort is mild to20moderate with a cold.
|
Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.
|