•  Colds and Flu •  H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) FAQ •  How to Stop a Cold

Like a common cold, the flu is an acute respiratory infection. Scientifically speaking, the difference is that a case of the flu is caused by an influenza virus whereas a cold is caused by a number of different viruses, including coronaviruses and rhinoviruses. Practically speaking, the difference is that the flu is generally more severe than a cold.

Though they have some symptoms in common, you can figure out which one you have if you know what to look for. Flu symptoms can go from mild to severe quickly, sometimes within hours; colds usually develop slowly over two days. Check out the table below to see how the symptoms differ.

A bout of the flu lasts three to five days, although you may feel weak for a week or two after your major symptoms are gone.

What's called stomach flu is actually caused by other viruses, such as rotavirus and Norwalk virus, that are transmitted through contaminated food. Like true influenza, stomach flu sometimes causes fever, chills, and fatigue, but such symptoms as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea are rare in influenza.

It may be worth your while, especially if you have a weak immune system. Some quick lab tests can confirm whether you have influenza. If you do, you may be able to take antiviral drugs to treat it. How much the flu virus responds to these medicines can vary, depending on which flu strain is circulating in a given year and if the flu virus has developed any drug resistance or not. A class of flu drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors -- Relenza (zanamavir) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir) -- can relieve flu symptoms if you take them within the first 48 hours. These drugs have some advantages over the previous ones: they suppress both types of influenza (A and B), and they inhibit most strains, not just the strains of the season. Any of these drugs may have unpleasant side effects, so your doctor can help you determine if they're right for you.

(Antibiotics work only against bacteria; they're powerless against viral diseases like colds and the flu, so don't bother trying to get them from your doctor.)

In rare cases people are unable to fight off the flu virus. Each year in the United States it kills an estimated 36,000 people, many of them over the age of 65. Flu also weakens the body, raising the likelihood of complications such as ear infections in children and pneumonia in the elderly. If you start feeling better but are then hit with another fever, cough, and chest pains while breathing, you may be developing pneumonia or another bacterial infection and you should visit your doctor.

Drugs aside, the measures to take are pretty much what you'd expect:

•Get plenty of rest.

•Drink lots of clear fluids, including water, clear juices, and caffeine-free teas. If you feel like having chicken broth or soup, it certainly can't hurt; a recent study even suggested it can speed up your recovery a bit.

•Try an over-the-counter drug. It's better to treat bothersome symptoms individually, rather than overmedicating yourself with cure-all combos. So if you have a nasty cough keeping you up at night, find a good cough syrup; if you have a pounding headache, take your favorite painkiller (though you should never give aspirin to children because of its link to Reye's syndrome).

•Though research has been inconsistent on the effectiveness of echinacea, at least one study found that it reduced the severity and length of flu symptoms. In the study, a daily 900-milligram echinacea supplement during a bout with the flu significantly reduced patients' symptoms, including weakness, fatigue, chills, sweating, sore throat, muscle and joint aches, and headaches, when compared to both a placebo and a lower dosage (450 mg).

Anyone can get a flu shot to help protect against the flu. Experts also recommend that you receive a flu shot if you fall into one of the following groups, who are higher risk of complications from the illness:

•Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday

•People 50 years old or more

•Residents and employees of nursing homes, assisted living homes, and other long-term care facilities

•People who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma

•People who need regular medical care or have been hospitalized for metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or HIV/AIDS

•Children and teenagers (aged 6 months and older) who are on long-term aspirin therapy and thus could develop Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition, after contracting the flu

•Pregnant women

•Doctors, nurses, emergency response workers, and other employees in hospitals and doctors' offices

•Employees in assisted living homes and other residences for people in high-risk groups

•Household members of people in high-risk groups, as well as their caregivers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises that "anyone who wants to lower their chances of getting the flu can get a flu shot." The agency also encourages the vaccination of healthy children 6 months to 4 years of age, students and others who live in dormitories, as well as fire fighters, paramedics, and other people who provide crucial community services. In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a nasal spray flu vaccine that can be used by healthy people aged 2 to 49.

According to the CDC, the following groups should talk with their doctor before considering a flu shot:

•People who have a severe allergy to hens' eggs

•People who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past

•People who previously develop Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot

•Children younger than six months

•Anyone who has a moderate or severe illness with a fever

•Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

•Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough, sneeze, or touch your eyes. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are great for killing germs when you're on the go. When someone in your house is sick, antibacterial wipes are good to use on surfaces in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

•Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. (You can spread germs from the mucus in your eyes and mouth this way.)

•Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it out immediately afterward. If you don't have a tissue handy, cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve. (Teach kids these techniques, too!)

•Killing germs is one thing; staying healthy is another. Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables will help keep your body's immune system working at its peak.

Finally, if you feel sick or have a fever, stay home until the fever is gone for 24 hours (without having to take medicine to reduce it). If you're sick, limit contact with others unless you need a friend or relative to bring you medication or other supplies.

Yes. Some researchers are trying to devise a way to grow the influenza virus in human cells in the laboratory (currently, the virus is grown in hens' eggs), so that people who react to eggs may be able to get a flu vaccine from this source.

References

Last updated September 1, 2009
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