Cold or Flu?
Landisville Family Health Center

What is the Flu?
Influenza (commonly referred to as the flu) is a virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. Typically, it lasts one to two weeks, but may lead to more severe infection such as pneumonia.

Who can get the flu?
About 10-20% of people get the flu very year. People in frequent contact with other people are more at risk of catching the infection. Each year about 20,000 people die of complications related to the flu. Those who are most at risk of complications are:

• All children, 6-23 months
• All adults, 65 years or older
• All women whoa re or will be pregnant during flu season (January-March)
• Residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• Individuals ages 2-64 who have long-term health problems
• Children, ages 6 months to 18 years, who are on chronic aspirin therapy
• Health care workers who have direct/frequent patient contact
• Caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months of age

How can you Keep from catching the flu?
The best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu shot each fall before the flu season. Some people who get the flu shot can still get the flu, but generally, it is less severe and shorter lasting. Other steps one can take to prevent the flu include frequent hand washing and avoiding exposure to people who are sick with cold symptoms.

Flu or cold?
Oftentimes, symptoms of the flu and cold can be similar and it is difficult to tell them apart.

	COLD	FLU
Severity	Mild	Severe
Onset	Gradual	Sudden
Duration	3-5 days	7 days or more
Fever	99-101°	103° or higher
Symptoms	Feel Tired Sneezing Coughing Scratchy throat Headache	Feel weak/tired Chills Severe headache Muscle aches Sore throat Runny Nose

What to do if you are sick with the flu
If you are sick with the flu, stay off work to prevent the transmission to other people. Talk to your doctor about when it might be safe to go back. Drink plenty of fluids. A group of prescription medications called antivirals can help fight the flu. You need to start using them within two days of flu symptoms for them to help. See your doctor right away with the onset of flu symptoms to see if these medicines can help you.