How to distinguish a cold from the flu

How to distinguish a cold from the flu
 At first, especially inexperienced glance it seems that cold symptoms are indistinguishable from influenza. In fact it is not, and will learn to distinguish between them can and should be. Knowledge of the difference between the disease will help to identify disease at an early stage.
 As indicated in the dictionary of medical terms, cold - is the generic name of acute respiratory diseases (ARD), which predominantly arise after cooling. ARI are caused by different viruses, parainfluenza, adenovirus, so there is another acronym, which stands for colds - SARS. Species of pathogens cold over 200. All of these viruses are resistant to low temperatures and are killed by heat, ultraviolet irradiation and from the action of disinfectants.

Influenza - an acute infectious highly contagious (easily and quickly apply) disease with airborne transmission mechanism. Influenza caused pneumotropic (affecting the airways) viruses that contain RNA (ribonucleic acid). These viruses are of three kinds: A, B and C. Influenza is characterized by acute onset, transient fever, upper respiratory tract, general intoxication and frequent complications.

As defined, the flu - a kind of cold. The main difference between them is that the common cold is not a short-term severe inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and flu adds to the picture of the above listed characteristics. It is important to know what you are experiencing - with the common cold or flu because the flu by taking a cold, can cause serious complications.

Colds different average temperatures, hysterical cough, runny nose, sneezing and not strong pain in the joints. If antibiotics for colds help, in the case of influenza virus they are powerless. So remember the main flu symptoms: weakness, chills, very high temperature (up to 39 degrees and above), sore throat, dry nose, nasal congestion, but not cold. Also characterized by severe headache, pain in the eyeballs, aching joints and muscles. Severe forms of the flu may be accompanied by vomiting, fainting, seizures, and so on.

Symptoms of parainfluenza is distorted voice in the patient, and the cough "barking", which is caused by inflammation of the larynx and trachea. But the temperature can not be.

At any symptoms of these diseases do not ignore the visit to the doctor. Remember that influenza viruses are so many, and they all have their symptoms and determine them exactly can only be a specialist.

Tags: flu, colds, difference symptom