BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuColds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - adultWhat to ask your doctor about colds and the flu - adult; Influenza - what to ask your doctor - adult; Upper respiratory infection - what to ask your doctor - adult; URI - what to ask your doctor - adult; H1N1 (Swine) flu - what to ask your doctor - adultMany different germs, called viruses, cause colds. Symptoms of the common cold include:Cough Headache Nasal congestion Runny nose Sneezing Sore throat The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus.Many flu symptoms are similar to those of a common cold. Flu symptoms most often include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can also include vomiting and diarrhea. Many of these symptoms are the same as for COVID-19.FluThe flu (influenza) is a viral respiratory illness that causes fever, chills, runny nose, body aches, and cough. It spreads easily from person to pe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your cold or flu. Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersQuestionsWhat are the symptoms of a cold? What are the symptoms of the flu? What are the symptoms of the COVID-19? How can I tell them apart?Will I have a fever? How high? How long will it last? Can a high fever be dangerous? Will I have a cough? Sore throat? Runny nose? Headache? Other symptoms? How long will these symptoms last? Will I be tired or achy? How will I know if I have an ear infection? How will I know if I have pneumonia? When should I get tested for COVID-19?Can I make other people sick? How can I prevent that? What should I do if I have a young child at home? How about somebody who is older?When will I start to feel better?What should I eat or drink? How much?What medicines can I buy to help with my symptoms?Can I take aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)? How about acetaminophen (Tylenol)? How about cold medicines? Can my provider prescribe stronger medicines to help improve my symptoms? Can I take vitamins or herbs to make my cold or flu go away quicker? How do I know if they are safe? Will antibiotics make my symptoms go away faster?AntibioticsAntibiotics DO NOT cure colds and flus.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Are there other medicines that can make the flu go away faster?Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHow can I keep from getting a cold or the flu?Should I get a flu shot? What time of year should I get one? Do I need one or two flu shots every year? What are the risks of the flu shot? What are the risks for me if I do not get a flu shot? Does the regular flu shot protect against swine flu? Is a flu shot safe for me if I am pregnant? Will a flu shot keep me from getting colds all year long? Can smoking or being around smokers cause me to get the flu more easily? Can I take vitamins or herbs to prevent the flu? Open ReferencesReferencesBarrett B. The common cold. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 329.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Influenza (Flu): seasonal flu vaccine basics. www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/. Updated September 17, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Influenza (Flu): what to do if you get sick. www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare/. Updated August 30, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024.Ison MG, Lee N. Influenza. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 332.AllVideoImagesTogCold remedies - illustration Sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, fever, chills, and muscle aches are all symptoms associated with the common cold. Over-the-counter medicines for a cold only alleviate cold symptoms but do not shorten the duration of a cold. As always, drinking plenty of fluids and rest are most important for recovery from a cold.Cold remediesillustrationCold remedies - illustration Sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, fever, chills, and muscle aches are all symptoms associated with the common cold. Over-the-counter medicines for a cold only alleviate cold symptoms but do not shorten the duration of a cold. As always, drinking plenty of fluids and rest are most important for recovery from a cold.Cold remediesillustrationA Closer Look Immunizations - InDepth(In-Depth)Siberian ginseng(Alt. Medicine)Asian ginseng(Alt. Medicine)Elderberry(Alt. Medicine)Goldenseal(Alt. Medicine)Green tea(Alt. Medicine)Goldenrod(Alt. Medicine)Sinusitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Celery seed(Alt. Medicine)Exercise - InDepth(In-Depth)Talking to your MD Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - adultColds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - childRelated Information Immune response(Special Topic)Community-acquired pneumonia in adults(Condition)Acute respiratory distress syndrome(Condition)Flu(Condition)Common cold(Condition)Stuffy or runny nose - children(Symptoms)Cough(Symptoms)Fever(Symptoms)Avian influenza(Condition)H1N1 influenza (Swine flu)(Condition)Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - child(Doctor Questions)Pneumonia in children - discharge(Discharge)Pneumonia - InDepth(In-Depth)Colds and the flu - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 10/13/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - adultWhat to ask your doctor about colds and the flu - adult; Influenza - what to ask your doctor - adult; Upper respiratory infection - what to ask your doctor - adult; URI - what to ask your doctor - adult; H1N1 (Swine) flu - what to ask your doctor - adultMany different germs, called viruses, cause colds. Symptoms of the common cold include:Cough Headache Nasal congestion Runny nose Sneezing Sore throat The flu is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus.Many flu symptoms are similar to those of a common cold. Flu symptoms most often include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can also include vomiting and diarrhea. Many of these symptoms are the same as for COVID-19.FluThe flu (influenza) is a viral respiratory illness that causes fever, chills, runny nose, body aches, and cough. It spreads easily from person to pe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that causes fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, but many other symptoms can occur....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your cold or flu. Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersQuestionsWhat are the symptoms of a cold? What are the symptoms of the flu? What are the symptoms of the COVID-19? How can I tell them apart?Will I have a fever? How high? How long will it last? Can a high fever be dangerous? Will I have a cough? Sore throat? Runny nose? Headache? Other symptoms? How long will these symptoms last? Will I be tired or achy? How will I know if I have an ear infection? How will I know if I have pneumonia? When should I get tested for COVID-19?Can I make other people sick? How can I prevent that? What should I do if I have a young child at home? How about somebody who is older?When will I start to feel better?What should I eat or drink? How much?What medicines can I buy to help with my symptoms?Can I take aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)? How about acetaminophen (Tylenol)? How about cold medicines? Can my provider prescribe stronger medicines to help improve my symptoms? Can I take vitamins or herbs to make my cold or flu go away quicker? How do I know if they are safe? Will antibiotics make my symptoms go away faster?AntibioticsAntibiotics DO NOT cure colds and flus.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Are there other medicines that can make the flu go away faster?Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHow can I keep from getting a cold or the flu?Should I get a flu shot? What time of year should I get one? Do I need one or two flu shots every year? What are the risks of the flu shot? What are the risks for me if I do not get a flu shot? Does the regular flu shot protect against swine flu? Is a flu shot safe for me if I am pregnant? Will a flu shot keep me from getting colds all year long? Can smoking or being around smokers cause me to get the flu more easily? Can I take vitamins or herbs to prevent the flu? Open ReferencesReferencesBarrett B. The common cold. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 329.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Influenza (Flu): seasonal flu vaccine basics. www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/. Updated September 17, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Influenza (Flu): what to do if you get sick. www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare/. Updated August 30, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024.Ison MG, Lee N. Influenza. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 332.
