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| Cold | Flu | Allergy |
|---|---|---|
| - Onset usually slow (1-2 days) - Little or no fever - Chills rare - Headache not common - Slight body aches possible - Little or no stiffness - Little or no weakness - Little or no loss of appetite - Mild fatigue - Mild to moderate cough - Stuffy nose common - Runny nose common - Nasal mucus variable - Sore throat common - Sneezing common - Little or no redness of eyes - Eyes not especially itchy - Ears not usually itchy - Symptoms last about a week |
- Onset usually sudden (hrs) - Often high fever - Chills common - Headache common - Achiness can be severe - Stiffness can be severe - Weakness can occur - Loss of appetite common - Fatigue can be extreme - Dry, hacking cough - Stuffy nose common - Runny nose common - Nasal mucus variable - Sore throat common - Sneezing not prominent - Little or no eye redness - Eye itchiness not prominent - Ears not usually itchy - Symptoms last about two weeks (cough & fatigue from flu may persist for several weeks) |
- Onset variable - No fever - No chills - Headache with sinusitis - Body aches uncommon - No stiffness - Weakness uncommon - Appetite usually not affected - Fatigue none to moderate - Cough may be present - Stuffy nose a frequent problem - Runny nose a frequent problem - Mucus initially clear, watery - Sore throat less common - Sneezing a frequent problem - Bloodshot eyes common - Itchy eyes a common problem - Itchy ear canals common - Symptoms intermittent or continuous |
Notice: This is general information only.
Symptoms and treatment may vary considerably, and can be influenced by the duration of the
illness, underlying conditions, use of medications, etc. Diagnosis and treatment
SHOULD NOT be based solely on these generalities.