Is it a Cold or the Flu?
Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.
Flu and the common cold have similar symptoms (e.g. fever, sore throat). It can be difficult to tell the difference between them.
Your doctor can give you a flu test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether you have the flu.
In general, the flu is worse than the common cold.
Symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense with the flu.
Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.
Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
Good Health Habits
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Cover Your Cough
Stop the Spread of Germs that makes you and others sick.
Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
When washing hands with soap and water:
Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing “Happy Birthday” twice through to a friend!
Rinse hands well under running water
Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet
When should you wash your hands?
Before preparing or eating food
After going to the bathroom
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
Before and after tending to someone who is sick
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After handling an animal or animal waste
After handling garbage
Before and after treating a cut or wound
Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.
When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
Apply product to the palm of one hand
Rub hands together
Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®)
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures
CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Stopping the Spread of Germs
Prevention & Treatment
Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.
Flu and the common cold have similar symptoms (e.g. fever, sore throat). It can be difficult to tell the difference between them.
Your doctor can give you a flu test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether you have the flu.
In general, the flu is worse than the common cold.
Symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense with the flu.
Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.
Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
Good Health Habits
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Cover Your Cough
Stop the Spread of Germs that makes you and others sick.
Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
When washing hands with soap and water:
Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing “Happy Birthday” twice through to a friend!
Rinse hands well under running water
Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet
When should you wash your hands?
Before preparing or eating food
After going to the bathroom
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
Before and after tending to someone who is sick
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After handling an animal or animal waste
After handling garbage
Before and after treating a cut or wound
Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.
When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
Apply product to the palm of one hand
Rub hands together
Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®)
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures
CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Stopping the Spread of Germs
Prevention & Treatment