How to differentiate between a cold, flu or norovirus…from symptoms to treatment 2024
Cold or flu? Experts explain how to tell colds, flu and norovirus apart from symptoms and treatment.
Many of us suffer from runny noses, coughs and sore throats this winter, but it can be difficult to determine whether the cause is a cold or the flu.
Flu figures released by the UK Health Security Agency this week showed that cases and hospital admissions continued to rise.
More than 17 million doses of flu vaccine have been given in the UK this year, but experts still fear that flu outbreaks could continue to grow in the coming weeks as more people come into contact in enclosed spaces over the Christmas and New Year period.
Separate figures reveal that the vomiting bug norovirus – which can also cause diarrhoea – has reached its highest level in a decade.
What are the signs of influenza and norovirus? And how can to tell them apart from the regular cold?
Colds..
Rhinoviruses are the most common cause of colds, but this simple infection of the nose and throat can be caused by one of more than 200 different viruses.
If symptoms are mostly limited to the upper airway, it is likely a cold.
Colds and flu belong to two different viruses. Colds are rhinoviruses while flu belongs to the influenza strains. Flu symptoms are usually more severe, come on suddenly, and can lead to further complications.
Difference in symptoms between cold and flu
Common colds typically cause cough, sore throat and nasal congestion, while the flu can cause fever, body aches and chills.
However, the overlap in symptoms between colds and flu, including sneezing and a stuffy nose, can make clinical diagnosis difficult, and the viruses that cause flu and colds thrive in cold temperatures, meaning cases are likely to rise in the winter months.
Studies have shown that viruses, especially influenza viruses, transmit better in dry air, and that colder temperatures mean drier air.
In addition to this temperature change, less sunlight means people get less vitamin D, which can help protect the immune system and protect against respiratory viruses. Another reason flu is more prevalent during the winter is that people spend more time indoors, where there is less ventilation.
With the holiday season, we can seeing an increase in travel which could help any cold and flu viruses spread across the country, the Daily Mail reported. There is no cure for the common cold, but there are some ways to ease its symptoms, such as: getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, inhaling steam to relieve a stuffy nose, and drinking hot lemon and honey to soothe a sore throat, all of which are simple ways to treat a cold.
flu
The illness, caused by the influenza virus, typically causes people to have a cough, which is also seen in the common cold, but flu symptoms are usually more severe than a cold, can also cause stomach problems and can be fatal in some cases if complications, such as pneumonia, develop in those most at risk.
Professor Ron Eccles, head of the Cardiff University Common Cold Centre, said: “Flu usually causes chills, fever, headache, muscle aches and pains. Flu symptoms feel worse because the symptoms affect the whole body and are not limited to the upper airways.
“Gastrointestinal symptoms are such as vomiting and diarrhoea are most common in cases of flu.
The latest figures from the UK’s Health and Human Services show that cases of flu are on the rise, with just over one in five (21.7%) tests carried out on Britons of all ages with a cough and cold last weekend showing positive results for the flu virus.
Rates were highest among children aged 5 to 14 at 39.8%, up from 30% the previous week.
NHS figures released this week suggest that hospital admissions for flu in England have already passed last year’s peak and are at their highest level so far this winter.
He said most people with flu are infectious three to four days after their symptoms start, adding: “To help prevent the virus spreading, it is important to practise good hygiene such as washing your hands and using tissues, avoid close contact with others if you have symptoms, and make sure the environment you are in is well ventilated.”
“Flu vaccines are most important, not only for you but also for the protection of the community,” he said. “Regular flu vaccination it will prevent you from getting a sick and can prevent further complications. It also has a benefit of keeping your immunity more high against new strains.
In addition, regular flu vaccinations also help protect the most vulnerable members of your family and community and reduce the strain on healthcare systems. Just as with treating a cold, it’s important to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. You can also take over-the-counter medications.”
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with headaches, muscle aches, and fever, guaifenesin can help thin mucus and clear your airways, pseudoephedrine can help with nasal congestion, and antihistamines like chlorpheniramine can stop a runny nose, he said. If you have a cough, look for a products that may contain a dextromethorphan.
If you have flu or a cold, you should consider seeing your doctor if your symptoms last for more than a week or if you develop a high temperature, difficulty breathing or other signs of infection, he explained.
Separate figures reveal that the vomiting bug norovirus – which can also cause diarrhoea – has reached its highest level in a decade. It comes as health experts have already warned that the health service should prepare for a ‘quadruple epidemic’ driven by the four winter illnesses – flu, Covid-19, norovirus and the cold-like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
What are the signs of influenza and norovirus? And how can you tell them apart from the common cold?
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If you have the flu or a cold, you should consider seeing your doctor if your symptoms last longer than a week or if you develop a high temperature, difficulty breathing or other signs of infection.
New figures show that infection rates of the vomiting bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are also more than double the levels seen before Covid-19 at this time of year. New figures show that infection rates of the vomiting bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are also more than double the levels seen before Covid-19 at this time of year.
Neurovirus..
According to figures published by the UK Health Security Agency, the total number of norovirus cases reported this year (4,523) was more than double the number recorded five years ago (2,057).
Most people who get sick experience nausea, diarrhea and vomiting and recover at home, but norovirus can put pressure on hospitals because infected patients need to isolate themselves in single rooms or wards must be closed to new patients to contain the spread of the virus.
Most people will not need to talk with doctor about a norovirus infection. In the most cases, it will go away on its own.
Treatment..
Health experts often recommend rest and drinking plenty of fluids to aid recovery. Paracetamol may also help with fever or aches. Rehydration drinks, such as Duralite, which replace essential salts as well as water, can be purchased from your chemist.
Parents are advised to avoid giving soft drinks or fruit juice to children with norovirus, as this may worsen diarrhea. Many patients also ask doctors to prescribe antibiotics, but these are ineffective against viruses. However, patients with severe vomiting and diarrhea can obtain anti-nausea medications from a GP.
