Is it the Flu or the Common Cold?
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Here's some information that might answer that common question and hopefully, clear the confusion!
How to diagnose Influenza (Flu)
If you have a fever (usually 39-41 deg C) and 2-3 of the symptoms listed below, you have the flu!
Common Symptoms : Fever, Headache, Sore Throat, Dry Cough, Lethargy, Myalgia (Muscle Pain)
Less Common Symptoms : Sneezing, Painful and Watery Eyes, Blocked / Runny Nose
Flu vs the Common Cold
Flu
Onset of symptoms : Sudden
Fever : High, 38-41 deg C
Muscle Aches : Severe
Malaise or Fatigue : Severe
Sore throat and cough : Early onset
Chest symptoms : Substernal burning common
Sneezing : Occasional
Duration : 7-10 days
Common Cold
Onset of Symptoms : Gradual
Fever : None or mild (less than 38 deg C)
Muscle Aches : Usually mild
Malaise / Fatigue : Usually Mild
Sore Throat and Cough : Mild course, peaking on Day 2-3
Chest Symptoms : Mild, if any
Sneezing : Common
Duration : 3-4 Days
Hope this information helps!
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you forgot hay fever, rhinitis, sinusitis, and rhinosinusitis (nothing to do with rhinos
) which people always say "flu"
i still wanna ask the blasted doctors why they have the audacity to say we need 7 days of rest when we get influenza, yet tell me "you'll start to feel better in 3 days' time and here's one day of medical leave" -
Precisely. It's really awful that we are usually forced to get back to work when we're still feeling ill. That's almost like knocking on trouble's door, waiting for mistakes to happen.Originally posted by the Bear:you forgot hay fever, rhinitis, sinusitis, and rhinosinusitis (nothing to do with rhinos) which people always say "flu"
i still wanna ask the blasted doctors why they have the audacity to say we need 7 days of rest when we get influenza, yet tell me "you'll start to feel better in 3 days' time and here's one day of medical leave"
On top of that, the sick person would be in the workplace, merrily spreading their germs around! I'm sure everyone knows that the flu is spread by droplets (through an infected person coughing or sneezing) but did you know that the virus released in the droplets can actually remain airborne for two hours!!!
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Ack... the server keeps acting up and I blame it entirely on my double posts!Originally posted by the Bear:you forgot hay fever, rhinitis, sinusitis, and rhinosinusitis (nothing to do with rhinos) which people always say "flu"
i still wanna ask the blasted doctors why they have the audacity to say we need 7 days of rest when we get influenza, yet tell me "you'll start to feel better in 3 days' time and here's one day of medical leave"
Anyways, hay fever isn't that common in Singapore. -
I think I'm coming down with a cold
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Originally posted by elindra:I think I'm coming down with a cold Whenever I think that I might be catching something, I'll quickly take Echinacea as well, on top of my daily dose of time-released Vitamin C. Echinacea has helped me on quite a few occasions.
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Hee...i saw this comparison board at Polyclinic yesterday.
Glad they put it up to clear confusion.
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nel says i've got viral infection...
i've got almost all the symptoms of flu.. plus some swellin at the back of my mouth
tried eatin ice cream n fisher man's frenz.. works better than the lozenges
n the stupid fever wouldn leave... it'd come back at night makin me extremely uncomfy, and unable to slp
imagine the whole bed's so hot, it's almost impossible for me to have a good slp... n if i kick the blanket away, i'd start shivering -
I had the flu last week, and it was one of worst I caught in recent memory. Horrible headaches and muscle aches and a fever close to 40 degrees centrigrade.
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Originally posted by Kuali Baba:I had the flu last week, and it was one of worst I caught in recent memory. Horrible headaches and muscle aches and a fever close to 40 degrees centrigrade.
u've gotten better right?
take good care of urself!
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i think i am suffering from perpetual cold. Been suffering from a sore throat every morning and runny nose for the past three months.
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what's Echinacea?Originally posted by Rhonda: Whenever I think that I might be catching something, I'll quickly take Echinacea as well, on top of my daily dose of time-released Vitamin C. Echinacea has helped me on quite a few occasions. -
i've been wondering... where does all teh various vitamins n minerals etc come from? and what are the side effects when too much of these are consumed...
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It's a flower that is used as a herb. There are health supplements made from Echinacea or you can buy the Echinacea herbal tea.Originally posted by JLennon:what's Echinacea? -
i am taking vitamin C pills to stop the same thing happening to meOriginally posted by JLennon:i think i am suffering from perpetual cold. Been suffering from a sore throat every morning and runny nose for the past three months. -
I think there's a nasty flu bug going around right now. I take my time-release Vitamin C daily and even took Echinacea to boost immunity and even started drinking some cooling fluids but, no use... succumbed to it myself. Not sure if it's because I'm being surrounded at work by colleagues who are all ill with the same flu or because we have a large number of patients on tracheostomy who needs frequent suctioning so us nurses end up falling ill as a result.
Anyways, take care, all of you! Start taking your Vitamin C daily now! And drink plenty of fluids too! Also, it pays to avoid the 'heaty' foods now... and yes, that includes durians!
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Poor Rhonda... hope you'll get better soon!! Yes, I must start taking my Vit C pills regularly too... am a slacker
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Sigh... I never slack in this habit of taking Vitamin C... but look, it's not a foolproof method too!Originally posted by SydneyLibrarian:Poor Rhonda... hope you'll get better soon!! Yes, I must start taking my Vit C pills regularly too... am a slacker 
Worse, have to start doing the night shift soon whilst burning with fever and feeling ill. Worst times to do the night shifts are when you're ill, or having PMS or having your monthly... it becomes sheer torture!
Also, have to cancel all the nice programs I have lined up! -
Sick...Sick..Me
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I think all MC given by all clinics/hospitals due to flu/common cold must be a standard 5 days MC.
Anything less than that how to recover faster rite?
Comments anyone?