Does Your Little One Have a Cold or the Flu?

Cold and flu season is the time when kids everywhere start to get sick.  Both illnesses are highly communicable, and kids are contagious before they even show symptoms.  The question many parents have is whether the illness their little one has is a cold or the flu.  Today, we will look at both and how to tell which one is making your child sick.

 

There are certainly some fundamental differences between a cold and the flu, and this makes it easier to know which one is affecting your child.  For starters, the flu often comes on quite suddenly and presents with a high fever and severe exhaustion. 

 

Headaches, vomiting, a decreased appetite, muscle pain, and chills are often quite common with the flu as well, but not with a cold.

 

With a cold, the onset of the illness is typically slow or gradual.  Fevers are mild, if present at all, headaches are rare in the absence of a sinus infection, and your child should be able to eat and to stay free of muscle pain.  Cold symptoms can feel terrible, but they are typically much milder than the flu.

 

If you suspect that your child has a cold or flu, keeping them home from school is advisable so that they do not spread the illness to other children.  Proper hand washing can also help stop transmission of cold and flu germs.  If symptoms become severe or if they have symptoms not listed here, don’t hesitate to call your physician.

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