Differences between influenza and common cold
Influenza symptoms are not so characteristic as to enable its differentiation from other infections of the respiratory tract. In fact, apart from the influenza virus, there are more than 200 other viruses (e.g. RS virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus) which cause similar symptoms as influenza. Therefore, the best course of action is to undergo laboratory tests the result of which can be obtained after only 2 hours!
When seeing a patient with flu-like disease (FLD), the physician cannot easily determine whether the cause is the influenza virus. Although FLD occurrence in the human population is quite well correlated with the seasonal occurrence of influenza, it should be taken into account that many other viruses and bacteria infect the respiratory tract, causing a similar clinical picture of cold, sore throat, tracheitis and bronchitis accompanied by fever and headache. No simple correlation exists between the clinical picture and the infecting micro-organism in respiratory tract diseases. The micro-organism causing FLD can be identified in a microbiological laboratory.
Clinical symptoms of an infection with the influenza virus
- acute onset (several hours or several days after the infection)
- local symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat and cough
- general symptoms such as (high) fever, asthenia, headaches and muscle pain.
Common cold
- Other micro-organisms infecting the respiratory tract may cause clinical symptoms similar to those of influenza.
- The occurrence of common cold symptoms is usually preceded by non-characteristic symptoms such as headaches, somnolece and chills.
- High temperature appears only several days after the symptoms of imminent cold appear.
- FLD is generally a self-limiting disease (in healthy children and adults of <65 years of age)
- Recovery is usually complete after one to two weeks.
In humans with an associated serious disease and in the elderly, influenza and FLD are serious, often lethal disorders.
