Dealing with Cold and Flu
What's the difference between a cold and the flu, and when should you get to the doctor?
With cold and flu season upon us, it's important to know what you are dealing with and when to take extra measures—such as going to a doctor or emergency room—or when to let your body fight it out with the aid of over-the-counter medicines. This is especially true when it comes to children getting sick. "At the beginning, it is difficult to tell the difference between a cold and flu," says Dr. Luis Eljaiek, medical director of Sentara Potomac Hospital's Emergency Care Center and Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine. "You typically have low-grade fever, runny nose, congestion, and mild cough with either one." He said muscle aches and joint aches are also common for both. "Basically the flu, influenza, is a worse version of a …
