The difference between a cold and the flu
Know the Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms
The only way to stop the spread of the epidemic is to spread the awareness.
| Symptom | Cold | H1N1 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 to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu. |
Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
That is an excellent comparison chart.
It should also be noted that the flu regular or h1n1 is basically all treated the same - tylenol motrin rest and fluids. There is a drug, tamiflu, which helps but must be started I believe within 12 hours of onset of symptoms.
You will feel like crap for a good 3 days if not longer with either variety of flu. And temps will probably not completely go away even w/ tylenol and motrin, just lessen, and will definately come back if you don't take tylenol and motrin around the clock every 4-6 hours depending on the med. (4 hours for tylenol, 6 hours for motrin)
Wash those hands, cover those sneezes (with your arm or elbow, NOT your hand), and try to stay healthy everyone! Not easy with everything going around!
The flu is especially dangerous in: Children under 3, people with comorbid conditions such as asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, smokers, and the elderly. Everyone else just gets to feel like crap :)
Pam
It should also be noted that the flu regular or h1n1 is basically all treated the same - tylenol motrin rest and fluids. There is a drug, tamiflu, which helps but must be started I believe within 12 hours of onset of symptoms.
You will feel like crap for a good 3 days if not longer with either variety of flu. And temps will probably not completely go away even w/ tylenol and motrin, just lessen, and will definately come back if you don't take tylenol and motrin around the clock every 4-6 hours depending on the med. (4 hours for tylenol, 6 hours for motrin)
Wash those hands, cover those sneezes (with your arm or elbow, NOT your hand), and try to stay healthy everyone! Not easy with everything going around!
The flu is especially dangerous in: Children under 3, people with comorbid conditions such as asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, smokers, and the elderly. Everyone else just gets to feel like crap :)
Pam
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
Yes, you are right...I forgot you guys.
I'm not the best nurse to ask regarding this subject. I don't believe in the "regular" flu vaccine. Here's why. It is based off of previous years flu and flu strains coming from asia and what not earlier than when it hits "us". So it's just a big guessing game as to what goes into the vaccine. Hence why some people get vaccinated and still get the flu.
Now.....according to my docs at LVH IF h1n1 had reared its ugly head back in January, instead of april like it did, it would have been "included" in the "regular" flu vaccine this fall and all this hype would have been avoided.
HOWEVER...because it didn't appear until april..it wasn't included in the vaccine...so they made a new vaccine.
According to my docs...it is VERY effective because it was based just on that one strain of flu...not a guessing game.
However...your immune system is not up to defending you against h1n1 until a minimum of 14 days AFTER vaccination. This has been confirmed by multiple docs and the nurse givng them out in LVH
I have NOT gotten either vaccine.
If I was pregnant...I probably would just because all my docs say I need to. Not to say I'm still not skeptical.
And I'm not sure if pregnant women are more susceptible rather than fevers can be dangerous to the fetus and seeing as though fevers with the flu are high, and sustained for quite a number of days, they are trying to avoid this risk to the mother/baby by decreasing the chance of the mother contracting the virus to begin with. That's just a total GUESS on my part, however.
:) I'm sure I just confused you more.
I'm not the best nurse to ask regarding this subject. I don't believe in the "regular" flu vaccine. Here's why. It is based off of previous years flu and flu strains coming from asia and what not earlier than when it hits "us". So it's just a big guessing game as to what goes into the vaccine. Hence why some people get vaccinated and still get the flu.
Now.....according to my docs at LVH IF h1n1 had reared its ugly head back in January, instead of april like it did, it would have been "included" in the "regular" flu vaccine this fall and all this hype would have been avoided.
HOWEVER...because it didn't appear until april..it wasn't included in the vaccine...so they made a new vaccine.
According to my docs...it is VERY effective because it was based just on that one strain of flu...not a guessing game.
However...your immune system is not up to defending you against h1n1 until a minimum of 14 days AFTER vaccination. This has been confirmed by multiple docs and the nurse givng them out in LVH
I have NOT gotten either vaccine.
If I was pregnant...I probably would just because all my docs say I need to. Not to say I'm still not skeptical.
And I'm not sure if pregnant women are more susceptible rather than fevers can be dangerous to the fetus and seeing as though fevers with the flu are high, and sustained for quite a number of days, they are trying to avoid this risk to the mother/baby by decreasing the chance of the mother contracting the virus to begin with. That's just a total GUESS on my part, however.
:) I'm sure I just confused you more.
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.
wow! That was the BEST explanation I got and from a sick nurse!! :)
I am pretty sure that I am going to go ahead and get the H1N1 vaccine ONLY because I work with the "virus brothers" and NONE of them will take a sick day! Also, if I weren't pregnant I wouldn't even be considering it. I have been on the fence but think that I will just go for it to protect by baby. I am skeptical and this will be only the 2nd time I've ever gotten the regular flu shot either and the last time was the only year I ever remember getting the flu.
Thanks for your advice as always!
Now - GO GET BETTER!
I am pretty sure that I am going to go ahead and get the H1N1 vaccine ONLY because I work with the "virus brothers" and NONE of them will take a sick day! Also, if I weren't pregnant I wouldn't even be considering it. I have been on the fence but think that I will just go for it to protect by baby. I am skeptical and this will be only the 2nd time I've ever gotten the regular flu shot either and the last time was the only year I ever remember getting the flu.
Thanks for your advice as always!
Now - GO GET BETTER!
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