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THE SYMPTOMS OF A COLD VS. H1N1
(Provided by MESPA member Bob Lundberg.)

SYMPTOM            COMMON COLD                    HINI FLU

Fever                  Fever is rare with a cold.          Fever is usually present with the flu. In up to
                                                                                80% of all flu cases.

Coughing             A hacking, productive                A non-productive (non-mucus producing)
                              (mucus-producing) cough         cough is usually present with the flu:
                              is often present with a cold.    sometimes referred to as a dry cough.

Aches                  Slight body aches and pains      Severe aches and pains are common with
                   can be part of a cold.    the flu.

Stuffy             Stuffy nose is commonly    Stuffy nose is not commonly present with
Nose                    present with a cold and    the flu.
                             typically resolves
                             spontaneously within a week.

Chills                   Chills are uncommon with          60% of people who have the flu experience
                             a cold.                                        chills.

Tiredness            Tiredness is fairly mild with        Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
                             a cold.

Sneezing             Sneezing is commonly     Sneezing is not common with the flu.
                             present with a cold.

Sudden                Cold symptoms tend to                The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours.
Symptoms           develop over a few days.             The flu hits hard and includes sudden
                                                                                  symptoms like high fever, aches, and pains.

Headache            A headache is fairly                     A headache is very common with the flu,
                             uncommon with a cold.               and is present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore                     Sore throat is commonly              Sore throat is not commonly present
Throat                 present with a cold.                      with the flu.

Chest                  Chest discomfort is mild to           Chest discomfort is often severe
Discomfort         moderate with a cold.                   with the flu.

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