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Section TitleMedical Services
  • Flu Season Resources
    • High Risk Patients
    • Children & the Flu Vaccine
    • Pregnancy & the Flu Vaccine
    • High-Dose Vaccine
    • FAQs about Seasonal Flu
    • When Should I Call My Doctor?
    • How is Flu Spread?
    • Do I Have a Cold or the Flu?
    • Good Habits to Keep You Healthy
    • How Do I Care for Myself and Protect Others?
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    Do I Have a Cold or the Flu?

    Although symptoms of the common cold and of the flu (influenza) overlap, there are important differences between the two.

    The common cold is usually a mild illness with symptoms that include:

    • Nasal congestion with runny nose and sneezing
    • Sore or scratchy throat

    • Cough

    • Mild fatigue and fever, or no fever at all.
    The flu is typically more severe with harsh symptoms that include:
    • Fever, often above 102 degrees Fahrenheit

    • Cough

    • Shaking chills

    • Marked fatigue

    • Muscle aches

    • Headache, often severe
    The flu may result in secondary infections like pneumonia, or may worsen existing medical problems like heart failure, asthma, COPD or diabetes.


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