Cold and Flu: Can You Tell the Difference?

1. You woke up with a sore throat and a runny nose. You probably have:

Ans: COLD. Still, it could be the flu. Colds and the flu share a few symptoms. Both are caused
by viruses that invade the upper airways. But colds are milder. Fever, body aches, dry cough,
and being very tired are more likely to be the flu.

2. Cold symptoms tend to come on gradually, but the flu starts suddenly.

Ans: TRUE. You’ll often feel a cold coming on over a few days. But flu symptoms begin
quickly, over a period of 3 to 6 hours.

3. Being exhausted is a sign of:

Ans: FLU. If you feel like you can’t get out of bed. Serious fatigue, along with chills and body
aches, are signs that you have the flu. So you need plenty of rest. Acetaminophen, naproxen, or
ibuprofen can help with body aches.

4. You can catch the flu from someone before they look sick.

Ans: YES. Someone can spread the flu a day before they start to feel sick and up to 7 days
after that. So they can pass the virus on before they know they have it. People with colds are
most contagious for 2 to 4 days after symptoms show up. But a cold can be catchy for as long
as 2 weeks. That’s a good reason to wash your hands often during cold and flu season, not just
when you’re around someone who looks or sounds sick.

5. You should always stay home from work if you have a cold.

Ans: FALSE. It depends on how you feel. If you can’t focus on your tasks, if you’re coughing
a lot, or if you just feel bad, stay home until you’re better. Since you may be contagious, your
co-workers may thank you for it. If you do go to work, cover your coughs and sneezes with a
tissue and wash your hands often. If you have the flu, Stay home. You probably won’t feel like
going in, and you definitely don’t want to spread it!

6. Drinking fluids helps the flu, but not a cold.

Ans: False. With a cold or the flu, fluids help break up congestion and thin mucus. So drink
plenty of liquids like water, herbal tea, ginger ale, and soup. Sports drinks or broth can also
help.

7. When you have the flu, you can go to work as soon as your fever goes away.

Ans: False.  Wait at least 24 hours after your fever goes away naturally -- without using
medicine to bring it down -- before you return. You should also avoid travel, social events,
movies, and other public gatherings for 24 hours after your temperature is normal.

8. Chicken soup may help fight a cold.

Ans: True. There’s a reason why this home remedy has made the rounds for hundreds of years.
It’s good for you and keeps your fluids up. Studies show that chicken soup may also help fight
infection and keep germs from entering the body through the nose. And it seems to thin mucus
better than other warm liquids.

9. When are you most likely to get the flu?

Ans: February. You can get the flu at any time, but flu season in the U.S. usually lasts
from October to May. Most people come down with it between December and February. The
best time to get a flu vaccine is in the fall, before flu season starts, so your body has time to
build up immunity. Better late than never, though. Getting a flu vaccine anytime during flu
season offers some protection.

10. Which can soothe a sore throat?

Ans: Sucking on ice chips or an ice pop does double duty for a cold and sore throat: It numbs
your throat and gets fluid into your body. Gargle with a mixture of 1 cup of warm water and
half a teaspoon of salt. Spit the liquid out afterward. Warm drinks like tea, or a cool mist
humidifier, may also give you some relief.

11. The average cold lasts for about:

Ans: 1 week. It may seem like forever when you have one, but colds usually end after
anywhere from 7 to 10 days.  Most stick around for roughly a week. See a doctor if you’ve been
sick more than 7 days or have a high fever, Severe sinus pain, Swollen glands, A cough that
brings up mucus or blood and Shortness of breath.

12. If you have a bad cold, you should take antibiotics.

Ans: False. Antibiotics won’t help a cold. They treat bacterial infections, but viruses cause
colds. If your cold brings on a bacterial infection such as one in your ear or sinuses, your
doctor may give you antibiotics. If it’s plain old sniffles or a sore throat, you can ask your
doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter medicine to help you feel better while your cold
runs its course.
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