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Not getting better as soon as you expected? Here are some key symptoms used by healthcare professionals to distinguish common colds from the flu...
| Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
| Fever |
Rare |
Usual; high (100°F to 102°F; occasionally higher, especially in young children); lasts 3 to 4 days |
| Headache |
Rare |
Common |
| General Aches, Pains |
Slight |
Usual; often severe |
| Fatigue, Weakness |
Sometimes |
Usual; can last up to 2 to 3 weeks |
| Extreme Exhaustion |
Never |
Usual; at the beginning of the illness |
| Stuffy Nose |
Common |
Sometimes |
| Sneezing |
Usual |
Sometimes |
| Sore Throat |
Common |
Sometimes |
| Chest Discomfort, Cough |
Mild to moderate; hacking cough |
Common; can become severe |
Source:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/cold/sick.pdf
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