Respiratory diseases are part of the most common conditions worldwide because they usually appear together with the sudden change in temperature in the environment, especially with the coldsince the arrival of winter causes a decrease in the defensive capacity of the mucous membranes in the airways.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Public Health Agency in the United States, often the flu and the a cold They are confused, mainly because they arrive at the same time and have some symptoms In common, so they share magnitude and also risk of complications.
For the US Federal Agency that is under the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services, it is “extremely important” that the international population knows how to differentiate one disease from the other, because one is usually more serious and presents much more symptoms intense than the other.
It is worth mentioning that both diseases are caused by a virus, but of different types. In the case of the flu, it is that of the influenzaalso known as H1N1which has the ability to adapt over time and modify its symptoms; While the colds are casuled by the Rinovirusa much more common.
Differences between a flu and a cold
As mentioned above, the flu virus has the peculiarity of being able to modify itself every so often, which causes its symptoms to be different depending on the region in which it is. For its part, cold’s rhinovirus is much more usual and may appear at different times of the year.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, the main difference between flu and cold is the intensity of symptoms, because the flu is “much more intense, weakening and can cause fever For more than three days “, like the other symptoms, which can last up to 2 weeks.
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On the other hand, the cold has a shorter and slight duration, although it also shares symptoms with the flu, such as nasal congestion, sneezingthe mucus, the coughthe loss of appetite and pain in the throat and in the head; although usually cold fever is very low and only generates general discomfort and tiredness.
In turn, flu fever is higher and discomfort goes beyond general discomfort, to the point of provoking intense muscle pains, shivers in the body and fatigue; However, despite the difference between both diseases, experts recommend the population to receive medical assistance if the pains increase.
How to relieve quickly?
The basic treatment for both diseases is very similar; However, in the event that they exist Complications Or a very high fever occurs for more than four days, it is necessary for the infected person to go with a doctor to evaluate their health status, since it could be some other type of more unusual condition.
On the other hand, for colds and minor flu, one of the most effective ways to relieve quickly is rest and drink a lot of water, since that will help eliminate mucus. Despite that, although the methods are effective, to accelerate the process it is recommended to take an analgesic, such as paracetamolto relieve discomfort or pain.
It is important to mention that the self -medication It can lead to negative consequences for the health of the infected person, so it is always advisable to attend an assistance center in the most complex cases, where staying hydrated to have wet mucous membranes or rest is not enough to feel better.
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