Cold or Flu? How to tell if your child has a simple cold or the flu

Flu is certainly making headlines this year. H1N1 now in the fall and soon we will have seasonal flu in the headlines as well. So not surprisingly, parents begin to worry about every sniffle. wondering is this the flu or just a simple cold. Here are some guidelines to help you tell the difference.

The common cold lasts about 9-10 days and is sometimes described as three days coming, three days here and three days going. The first three days your child may have a fever. In infants and toddlers the temperature might reach 103-104, but after giving some acetaminophen or ibuprofen, the temperature will be lower and your baby will seem better. In older children there might be a low-grade fever or none at all.  But here comes the runny nose. A cold always causes a runny nose, but the flu usually does not.

During the middle phase of a cold, a child may develop a cough because of the congestion from the nose, however it will not be a deep or hacking cough as we see when a child has the flu, and usually there is no chest pain. During this time the fever is usually gone, and your child might be back to their activities, despite the runny nose and mild cough.

The final three days is when the mucous starts to thicken and become crusty. At this point it’s just wiping the nose and using humidifiers to help your child breathe easier at night.

The symptoms of flu are very specific and include high fever (usually lasting 4 - 6 days), sore aching muscles, generalized weakness, headache, pain behind the eyeballs, a sore throat and hacking cough.

The uncomplicated flu lasts 7 - 10 days and does not respond to antibiotics.  Treatment includes plenty of fluids, bed rest and acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, headache and body aches.  For cough, try a mixture of honey and lemon (if older than 1 year), non-caffeine teas. Some studies even suggest that chicken soup has some merit. Try to avoid OTC cold medicines, especially in children younger than 2 years of age. Remember, to prevent Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal illness, never give aspirin to your child or adolescent with the flu. Consult your pediatrician or family physician if your child has a cough that is preventing them from sleeping.

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