Influenza vs head cold

[uppityperson]

I was talking with a person recently who was getting over a "head cold". The situation was this: Had felt crappy about a week before, high fever then chills, body hurt all over, then all joints were very sore. After bundling up for a few days, felt better. Then had a "bit of" a head cold, sinus and back of neck issue. Started a "spastic cough" several hours earlier. Didn't get a influenza vaccine this yr as never has before and has no health issues otherwise.

So, what is your take? Head cold or influenza?

I advised getting prepared to cough for a couple weeks, to monitor lungs as my take was influenza.

[MineralMan]

1. High Fever = Flu

Sounds like you caught the flu that's going around this season. Hope you feel better soon.

[uppityperson]

3. Not me, a potential customer

I sent them away. I am always amused at people's descriptions of the flu, stomach viruses, URIs. Educate educate educate.

[hedgehog]

2. Hard to say, since there's an entire family of rhino viruses out there

and some head colds can make you feel pretty miserable.

[Maru Kitteh]

12. Not often they'll produce a high fever though. n/t

[godai]

4. Any colored discharges from nose or lungs?

That, to me, indicates a bacterial infection that could be treated with a $5 generic antibiotic prescription. If clear discharges or dry, probably viral and antibiotics don't help. If this person is older, could get more serious. A head cold can be viral or bacterial.

[uppityperson]

6. Minimal snot. So far viral, influenza.

We discussed possible issues, was well aware of need for humidity, hydration, watching for thickening or discolored mucous.

[godai]

7. It sounds like the flu. Can be dangerous to elderly. n/t

[cbayer]

5. This is a great question.

There is only one way to truly distinguish a common cold from influenza - blood titers.

The rest is just speculation and based on one's subjective experience of the symptoms.

And in the end, does it matter? The symptoms will either clear over time or they will lead to secondary conditions (bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis). The treatment is going to be the same regardless - treat the symptoms, prevent secondary bacterial infections, try not to infect others.

:hi:

[msongs]

8. colds do not usually come with fever or non-head symptoms nt

[SheilaT]

9. Sounds like flu to me.

On the up side, since this person seems to have gotten flu and recovered quite nicely, he now has some strong immunity to future encounters with the virus.

[King_David]

10. Headcold does not

Usually give you a high fever,but theres other viruses or organisms besides flu that can do it.

[Warpy]

11. People with colds can have below normal temperatures,

normal temperatures or low grade (under 101) fevers. The symptoms are mostly confined to the upper respiratory system, everything from the bronchi on up to the sinuses. It's gone in about a week but it kicks your ass while it's there.

Flu is characterized by a temperature >101, chills, body aches, and either nausea and vomiting or the upper respiratory symptoms of the cold. It takes a week to ten days to lift and can be complicated by superinfections like pneumonia, something relatively rare with common colds. It kicks your ass while you have it and for a few weeks afterward, as your body devotes most of its energy to repairing the damage.

Offhand, I'd say your friend probably had the flu. A lot of older folks like me are at least partially immune to most of the strains going around, so our illnesses are shorter and milder. It's still flu, though, and it still hurts like hell.

[uppityperson]

13. Exactly. This person is still coughing, had influenza.

Rather textbook case of it also.