Is It a Cold or the Flu? Know Your F.A.C.T.S. (Infographic)

Sudden symptoms are a clue that it's flu

You're not feeling well. You're exhausted, coughing and have a stuffy nose. How do you know if it's the fluor merely a cold?

Flu and cold symptoms are similar and may differ only in severity. To quickly tell if you're probably dealing with the flu versus a cold, infectious disease expert Susan Rehm, MD, says to think of F.A.C.T.S. That stands for fever, aches, chills, tiredness and sudden onset — all symptoms pointing to flu.

Sudden onset is the key

Symptoms that turn on like a light switch are telling. "A respiratory illness that comes on suddenly, like you're being hit by a ton of bricks, may very well be flu," says Dr. Rehm.

A stuffy nose, sore throat and hoarseness without the other symptoms indicate a cold, she  says.  For adults, vomiting is a sign of a stomach bug rather than flu. (Flu affects the respiratory tract and not the digestive tract.)

Getting help early on

"If you feel like you're getting flu symptoms, contact your healthcare professional as soon as you can," says Dr. Rehm.  "You might be a candidate for prescription antiviral medication that specifically works against the flu."

Antiviral medication can lessen the effects and shorten the duration of flu. However, it works best when given within the first 48 hours.

If you're at high risk because you have a chronic medical condition or are pregnant, antiviral medicine might mean the difference between a milder flu and a very serious flu that results in a hospital stay.

Prevention: The best medicine

But flu vaccine remains your best protection against flu and flu complications like pneumonia, says Dr. Rehm. Vaccination is critical for those at highest risk: children under 5, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions.



Sent from iTriage. Affordable, accessible healthcare information for everyone. Click here to download iTriage for the iPhone and Android or find us in the iTunes App Store or Google Play. For other smart phones or home use visit us online at iTriageHealth

Guy Perea Presidential Elector President of The United States