A 42-year-old member asked:
can you tell me what is the difference between common cold and flu and should i take my medicine?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Flu vs Cold: In general, the flu will cause you to feel more ill than a cold will. Flu sxs can include fever, marked aching of muscles and joints ; significant fatigue (if these symptoms did occur with a common cold they would usually be less intense). Colds tend to lead to more nasal congestion than the flu. Most people do continue to take their regular medications.
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Similar questions
A 31-year-old member asked:
What are some OTC medicines for the cold and flu?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Kwok answered
Pediatrics 33 years experience
Many available: Adults' over-the-counter medicines for colds are ok to use if one follows the labels' instructions, stays below maximum doses, and is not using more than one medicine of each type. Fever/pain reducers include tylenol (acetaminophen) or motrin/advil. Cough meds include Robitussin (some people use dm, some avoid it). Decongestants and antihistamines include claritin-d, zyrtec-d, Benadryl +/- phenylephrine, sudafed.
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A 50-year-old member asked:
If everyone on the earth was quarantined for a period of 2 weeks or more, would the cold and flu disappear?
3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
CA
A 39-year-old member asked:
How can I avoid getting sick in the future and especially during cold and flu season?
2 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Danny Proffitt answered
Family Medicine 43 years experience
Many: Rest, fluids, avoid exposures to extreme heat or cold, perhaps some low dose vitamin c. The best of all is washing your hands, and wiping down surfaces and keeping your hands away from your face. If you are rested, hydrated, eating nutritiously, sleeping 8 hours, and using good hygiene, that is about all you can do. Hand sanitizers help. Avoid being around those you know are ill.
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A 36-year-old member asked:
Please give advice on how to cure cold and flu?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctor answered
A US doctor answered Learn more
No cure: There is no cure for the common cold or the flu. There are symptomatic medications that can help you deal with the symptoms but usually the virus just needs to run its course. For the flu there are flu vaccines that work to try to prevent the flu but they are not foolproof. There are also some medications that can be taken at the first sign of flu to shorten the course of it. Talk to your doctor.
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A 46-year-old member asked:
Cold versus flu? What are the differences between cold and flu symptoms?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge answered
Internal Medicine 41 years experience
The : The common cold and the flu are different illnesses caused by different viruses, but they share similar symptoms: cough, sore throat, sneezing, fever, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, tiredness, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Some general differences to look for:
common cold:.
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Last updated Jan 27, 2016
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