Differentiate

Differentiate "The Flu" caused by influenza from other cold viruses

1. Diagnose Influenza by Looking for Flu Clues

Some important factors to consider when diagnosing influenza are:

Recognizing the key symptoms of influenza
Discerning the difference between influenza and other illnesses that present similar symptoms
Staying aware of influenza activity in your area

FLU CLUES

PRIMARY	SECONDARY
Sudden onset	Headache
Fever	Tiredness
Nonproductive cough	Exhaustion
Myalgia	Weakness
	Chest Discomfort
	Chills
	Sore throat
	Stuffy Nose

2. Not Recognizing the Flu Can Leave You Out in the Cold

Influenza and cold symptoms can be similar, but there are distinctions between them. The chart below highlights the differentiating factors to help you distinguish between them:

SIGNS and SYMPTOMS	FLU	COLD
Onset	Sudden	Gradual
Fever	Characteristic, high (over 101º F) and lasting 3-4 days	Rare
Cough	Nonproductive, can become sever	Hacking
Headache	Prominent	Rare
Myalgia	Usual, often severe	Slight
Fatigue; weakness	Can last up to 2-3 weeks	Very mild
Extreme exhaustion	Early and prominent	Never
Chest discomfort	Common	Mild to moderate
Stuffy Nose	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Sometimes	Usual
Sore Throat	Sometimes	Common