How to Determine Whether You Have a Cold, Flu or H1N1
With the advent of the cold season, complicated by the flu pandemic, it is important to understand the symptoms of each. The best advice is always to stay home if you are feeling ill. Also, wash your hands frequently, or use a hand sanitizer if hand-washing is not feasible, and avoid physical contact with other people. Also, sneezing into your elbow is much better than sneezing into your hands.
Employers should explore alternate working arrangements, such as allowing employees to work from home, and should substitute teleconferencing for face-to-face meetings.
|
Symptom |
Cold |
Seasonal Flu |
H1N1 |
| Fever | Rare | Common | Fever is usually present in 80% of all cases. A temperature of 100 degrees or higher for 3-4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu. |
| Coughing | Hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is present. | A dry, hacking cough is usually present. | A dry cough is usually present. |
| Aches | Slight body aches and pains can be associated with a cold. | Moderate body aches | Severe aches and pains are common. |
| Stuffy Nose | Common with colds and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. | Commonly present. | Not commonly present. |
| Chills | Uncommon. | Mild to moderate. | 60% of people with H1N1 have chills. |
| Tiredness | Fairly mild. | Moderate. | Moderate to severe; can last 7-10 days. |
| Sneezing | Common. | Common. | Not commonly seen. |
| Sudden Symptoms | Tend to develop over a few days. | Symptoms tend to develop over a few days and last 4-7 days. Symptoms include a flushed face, loss of appetite, dizziness and vomiting. Diarrhea is also common. | Rapid onset, within 3-6 hours. It includes sudden symptoms such as high fever, aches and pains. Diarrhea is also common. |
| Headache | Uncommon. | Fairly common. | Present in 80% of H1N1 cases. |
| Sore Throat | Common. | Common. | Not common. |
| Chest Discomfort | Mild to moderate. | Moderate. | More severe. |