Influenza
Cold versus flu symptoms
| COLD SYMPTOMS | FLU SYMPTOMS | |
|---|---|---|
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. |
Swine Flu
If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:
- Read up on swine flu symptoms at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk then use the NHS Direct swine flu symptom checker
- If you are then still concerned, stay at home and call your GP or have an online consultation with our doctor
- If swine flu is confirmed, ask a healthy friend or relative to visit your GP or order your Tamiflu or Relenza medication online
Note: If you belong to a high-risk group it is particularily important you start taking antivirals as soon as possible. High-risk groups include people with long-term conditions, those over 65, children under five and pregnant women.
Key actions
Swine flu is spreading fast in the UK with several hundred new cases being confirmed daily. Prepare now:
- Establish a network of "flu friends" - friends and relatives - who can help if you fall ill. They could, for example, collect medicines and food for you
- Make sure that you have an adequate amount of paracetamol-based cold remedies in the house in case you become ill
Tamiflu for flu treatment & prevention
When you or someone in your family begins to experience flu symptoms, you have 48 hours to take action. Tamiflu is the number-one prescribed antiviral flu medicine:
- For flu treatment: When taken within two days of experiencing symptoms, Tamiflu works by helping to stop the flu virus from spreading inside the body
- For flu prevention: When you have been exposed to someone with the flu, taking Tamiflu can help keep the virus from making you sick
Tamiflu is not a substitute for the flu vaccination, which is the the first line of defence for flu protection
Tamiflu is effective for adults & children
In flu treatment studies of patients who took Tamiflu within 48 hours of the first appearance of symptoms:
- Adults felt better 30 percent faster (1.3 days) than flu patients who did not take Tamiflu
- Children felt better up to 26 percent faster (1.5 days) than flu patients who did not take Tamiflu
Tamiflu is indicated for the treatment and prevention of influenza in people 1 year and older.
Flu strains may vary from area to area, so if you are exposed to a strain of the flu that is not the same strain as the one your flu vaccination protects against, you may still get the flu.