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The Flu or Not the Flu: Differences between the Cold & Flu

(When to Wait & When to Worry)

Cold & Flu infections are the most common upper respiratory infections affecting millions of North Americans. They are caused by different viruses yet show similar symptoms. You have a runny & stuffy nose, cough & congestion with a sore throat; so is it a Cold or the Flu? Typically when you have the Flu it is more severe, wide spread & extreme.

The Flu Or Not The Flu? That is The Question!

Cold & Flu: About the Common Cold

A Common Cold starts gradually two days after exposure. Symptoms may include sore throat, sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, cough & general tiredness. A cold peaks within a few days and lasts around 7-10 days. You can expect to be contagious until the symptoms disappear because the cold is spread through coughing, sneezing and touching. Usually, you can still function in a lesser capacity with a cold. However, many missed work & school days may occur. Complications rarely occur from the Common Cold, unlike the Flu.

You’re Contagious During the Entire Cold

Cold & Flu: Confused: Cold or Allergies?

Conditions that can be confused with the Common Cold & Flu include allergic symptoms, sore throats, ear infections and sinus infections. Allergies are an overreaction to a normal immune response. Allergic reactions are not virus-related but also cause your mucous membranes to swell. Hay fever typically results in itchy, watery eyes not seen with a Cold & Flu, plus typical cold symptoms. Also, allergies tend to last the extent of the allergen season, whether spring, summer or fall.

It’s a Cold, a Flu, No! It’s Allergies!!!

People with Allergies have hyperactive immune systems that produce exaggerated responses to something a healthy person would not react to.  It is important to understand that having Allergies means your immunity is not healthy.

Allergies Mean Your Immunity is Sick

Cold & Flu: Defining the Differences

Children may get a fever during a cold, although it is rare for adults. That is one key difference between a Cold & Flu. A high fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), lasting 3-5 days, is common with the Flu. The extent of fatigue that the Flu presents with is another critical difference. Fatigue from the Flu can be debilitating and persist for weeks. The final symptoms that are more specific to the Flu, rather than the Common Cold, are a lack of appetite & vomiting.

Flu = Fever, Extreme Fatigue & Poor Appetite

Cold & Flu: About the Flu

Influenza viral infections, known as the Flu, are the most significant respiratory infections, due to their severity and potential for serious & even life-threatening consequences. The Flu shows up suddenly with fever & chills, sore throat & cough, stuffy & runny nose, headache & body aches, weakness & exhaustion, and possibly even nausea, vomiting & diarrhea. Flu symptoms normally  improve within two weeks, although the fatigue and weakness may linger for longer.

The Flu Can Lead to Life-Threatening Conditions

Cold & Flu: What to Do? I’ve Got the Flu!

For optimal recovery, stay home at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without drugs (aspirin or acetaminophen). When you have a fever, that is your body’s way of stimulating your immunity & inflammation to help fight the battle of infection (Evans, Repasky, & Fisher, 2015). In fact, anyone 18 years or under should NOT be given medications by mouth or on the skin containing Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Willow Bark or salicylate products such as “Pepto-Bismol” & “Alka-Seltzer“, to prevent a very rare, deadly complication called Reye’s Syndrome per the CDC.

AVOID Painkillers with the Flu

Cold & Flu: Hazardous Hand Sanitizer

The CDC recommends using hand sanitizer which I don’t agree with, due to its inherent toxicity. The toxic antimicrobial ingredient Triclosan has the same sanitizing effect as soap (Kim, Moon, Lee, & Rhee, 2015), while altering your gut microbiome to cultivate antibiotic-resistant bacteria, affecting immunity, heart function & hormonal imbalance (Weatherly & Gosse, 2018).

Triclosan Has Only Been Banned in Some Products

Cold & Flu: Are You At Risk for Flu Complications?

Serious complications from the Flu can happen to those over 65 years, pregnant women, children under 5 years, infants under 2 years and anyone with chronic medical issues including diabetes, heart disease, asthma & autoimmunity.

Prevention is Key for the Sick, Weak, Frail & Elderly

Cold & Flu: When the Flu Has You Fighting For Your Life

Flu complications can vary from sinus & ear infections, pneumonia, myocarditis (heart inflammation), encephalitis (brain inflammation) or myositis (muscle inflammation) to kidney & lung failure. Chronic health concerns such as asthma or diabetes often worsen during the Flu.

The Flu Can Inflame You to Death

Cold & Flu: Knowing When It’s Emergent

Remember these Emergency Warning Signs of Flu Sickness per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and call 911 or proceed to your nearest Emergency Room if you or your family have any of the following:

Children

• • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish skin colour
  • 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

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 that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Infants

• • Unable to eat
  • Trouble breathing
  • No tears when crying
  • Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal

Call 911 or Head to the ER

Cold & Flu: Final Thoughts

Ultimately, if you have had persistent symptoms of any kind that you are unsure of, please see your doctor. For assistance with improving your immunity, addressing allergies, treatment and prevention of Colds & Flu, please visit a licensed Naturopathic Physician.

Related    Agony from Allergies? Naturopathic Resolutions to Overcome Your Seasonal Suffering

References

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DailyMed – ALKA SELTZER- aspirin, anhydrous citric acid, sodium bicarbonate tablet, effervescent [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 7 October 2018]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=73e85be6-1236-453b-b41c-37381a054773

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