Understanding Colds and Flu

Sometimes it’s hard to know and to understand colds and flu symptoms. Many of the symptoms are the same, and both colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria, which means that you can’t treat them with antibiotics.

Common Cold:

The common cold affects the upper respiratory system – so most of the symptoms involve the eyes, nose and throat.  The common cold is spread by touching contaminated surfaces or other people’s hands, then touching your eyes and nose.

Symptoms appear between 12 hours and 5 days after an exposure, and last for 2 to 7 days.

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Low fever or chills (rarely)
• Some tiredness or muscle aches

Flu:

Flu symptoms are typically worse than cold symptoms, and are more likely to affect your whole body, rather than being more localized in your nose, eyes and throat.   With the flu, you can have additional symptoms like fever, body aches, extreme fatigue and a dry cough.

Symptoms appear 1 to 3 days after exposure, and lasts for 2 to 14 days.

• Sudden fever (38° C or higher)
• Cough (sometimes dry)
• Achy muscles
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Chills
• Extreme fatigue

So how can you prevent colds and flu…..

Wash your hands frequently and remember to wash before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching surfaces that may have been contaminated by other people.

Cover up when you cough or sneeze, and use a tissue, or raise your arm up to your face to cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

Keep shared surface areas clean like doorknobs, light switches, telephones, and keyboards, that can be contaminated with all kinds of bacteria and viruses.

Stay home! If you go out when you’re sick, you may spread your illness to your co-workers. Wait until you no longer have a fever and your cough is improving.

The most important thing about understanding Colds and Flu, are not the symptoms, but rather the simple everyday thing you can do to prevent them.