MetroPlus Health Plan - Health Education: Cold and Flu

Colds and Flu

It is sometimes hard to tell if you have a cold or the flu (also called influenza), because their symptoms are so similar. However, the flu may be more dangerous for your health than a cold, because it can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia - so it is important to know the difference between the two. Here are some similarities and differences:

Common Cold Symptoms	Common Flu Symptoms
Starts gradually, usually lasts less than one week	Starts quickly, usually lasts for a couple of weeks
Feeling a little tired	Feeling very weak and tired
Coughing	Severe coughing
Runny nose	Runny nose
Sneezing	No sneezing
Sore throat	Sore throat
No fever or just a slight fever (1-2 degrees above normal)	Fever
Milder muscle aches, headache, watery eyes	More severe muscle aches, chills, headache, eye pain

Is there medicine that can help you feel better? Once you are sick with a cold or the flu, no antibiotics or any other medicine will cure you. You should only take antibiotics when your doctor tells you that you really need them. Non-prescription cough and cold medicine may help reduce your symptoms, especially if you take it right after you get sick. Do NOT give aspirin or other "salicylates" to children or teenagers who have a cold or the flu! Young people may get sick or even die from a condition called Reye's Syndrome, which is linked to salicylate-containing medicines and cold or flu symptoms. So, make sure to read labels carefully and ask your doctor for more information.

There are things you can do to feel better:
• Drink fluids like water, fruit juices and clear soups
• Rest as much as you can
• Don't smoke or drink alcohol
• For a sore throat, gargle with salt water several times a day, or use throat sprays or lozenges

For more information, click here:
Colds and Flu (pdf)
Stop the spread of illness (pdf)

Helpful Links:
NYC Flu Info
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Flu Info

Back to Health Information

Privacy Policies