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Is It the Flu or Just a Cold?

Is It the Flu or Just a Cold?

Be able to spot the symptoms of both so that you know when it’s time to visit your Rochester, NY pediatrician.flue, cold

While the common cold rarely requires a trip to your children’s doctor, it can be challenging to know whether the symptoms they are experiencing are just that of a cold or whether it’s the flu. Even though a cold will go away on its own, the flu sometimes requires medical care and medication to manage your child’s symptoms. Your Rochester, NY pediatrician can help you be able to spot the differences for yourself.

Here are some common factors of both the cold and flu and how they differ:

Onset of illness: If your child seems to have suddenly come down with an illness practically overnight, this is more likely to be the flu. The common cold will often gradually appear before it becomes full-blown.

Fever: Children with a cold will often present with no fever or a very mild one, while children with the flu will often have a high fever. If your child has a fever it can be rather disconcerting. Don’t hesitate to call your Rochester, NY children’s doctor right away to see if they need immediate care.

Body aches: If your child has the flu one of the trademark symptoms are muscle aches. This symptom is not a sign of a cold.

Energy levels: A child with a cold may still seem to have some energy, while a child suffering from the flu will most likely be dealing with extreme exhaustion or malaise.

From these symptoms alone you may be able to determine whether your child has the cold or flu. Of course, symptoms aren’t always so cut and dry. If you are concerned that your child may be dealing with the flu, it’s a good idea to call their doctor. There are other health issues such as pneumonia that also present with similar symptoms, so it’s always a good idea to play it safe when your child is sick and seek medical attention if your child’s symptoms get worse or if they are indicative of the flu.

If you are concerned that your child may have the flu, or if your little one has a fever, it’s important that they get the proper medical attention they need. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to your child’s health. Don’t let the flu ruin your child’s health.