Is it a Nasty Cold or the Flu?
This time of year colds and flus tend to run rampant, with a lot of fear surrounding the flu. It can be hard to tell how worried you should be if you start feeling sick this season. According to the American College of Physicians these are the best ways to differentiate the cold from the flu:
- Cold symptoms take a couple of days to build up, sometimes with a low-grade fever <100oF or <37.7oC, and you often feel like you can still go to work initially. Flu symptoms start abruptly, with typically high fever >101oF or >38.3oC, chills, fatigue, and severe body aches. You can often pinpoint exactly when you got sick with the flu.
- While most colds and flus resolve in 7-10 days on their own, you should seek medical care if you fall into a high risk group such as: children <5 years old, adults >65 years old, pregnant women and patients with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, kidney disorders and liver disorders. Healthy adults without other conditions should use their judgement to decide if they need medical care.
Feel free to speak to your Kirk Pharmacist to help choose over-the-counter medications for symptom relief. Wishing a speedy recovery for all!