Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 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 H1N1 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 H1N1 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 H1N1 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 H1N1 flu.
Chills
Chills are uncommon with a cold.
60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.
Tiredness
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.
Sneezing
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.
Sudden Symptoms
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
The H1N1 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 H1N1 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 H1N1 flu.
Chest Discomfort
Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.
The only way to stop the spread of the epidemic is to spread the awareness.
I got this in an email the other day and thought I'd share it with you. My dh's little sister has it and until it's long gone from their house my babies will not be going there !
5 comments:
This was great to read. My daughter got sick a couple weeks ago. Went to bed fine (although she had complained that her body "hurt" a couple times that day) and woke up at 11 with high fever, nasty chest cough, and vomiting. We were so sure it was the flu, but the fever broke within 24 hours (came back for part of a day a couple days later) and then all she really had was a bad cough. And my son and I only got colds (my son did have a fever though). So I don't know what bug we were battling. And this is a really long comment. :)
Great info - thanks for sharing.
I am having major issues at my new job in making sure my BOSS is not encouraging people to come in sick - I TOLD him rule of thumb - if you have a fever do not come in. (He has no kids, knows no kids, and just thinks people staying home when they are "bleeding from the eyeballs" are just weak)
I think one of the biggest things is people learning that the world will not stop if you do for one day - going to work sick does not help you any and merely spreads the ickiness to everyone else.
That is good information - very glad I found your blog.
Great info to pass along! I heard that the H1N1 is actually present in your body for 24 hours before you develop any symptoms and that is why it is spreading so easily. Don't know if it is true or not, but a pediatrician told this to a friend of mine. This is why washing your hands is so important.
thank you so much for sharing, there is definitely a lot of weird stuff going on around here!
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