Your child is sent home from school with a sore throat, cough, and high fever - could it be the flu that's been going around? Or is it just a common cold?Before you can figure out how to help your child feel better, you need to know what it is that's making him or her sick. Typically, the flu (also known as influenza) has symptoms that make a child feel worse than symptoms associated with a common cold, but it's not always that easy to tell the difference between the two.
Flu vs. Colds: A Guide to Symptoms
Symptoms ChecklistTo help determine whether your child's fighting the flu or combating a cold, answer these questions about your child's symptoms.
Questions to ask concerning : Flu? Cold?- Was your child's onset of illness . . .Flu> sudden, Cold> slow.
- Does your child have a . . .Flu>high fever, Cold> no (or mild) fever.
- Is your child's exhaustion level . . .Flu severe, Cold> mild.
- your child's throat . . .Flu>sore, Cold>fine.
- Is your child's cough . . .Flu>dry, Cold> severe or hacking.
- Is your child's head . . .Flu>achy, Cold> headache-free.
- Is your child's appetite . . .Flu>decreased, Cold> normal.
- Are your child's muscles . . . Flu>achy, Cold> fine.
- Does your child have . . . Flu.>chills, Cold> no chills.
If most of your answers fell into the first category, chances are that your child has the flu. If your answers usually belonged in the second category, it's most likely a cold. But don't be too quick to brush off your child's illness as just another cold. The important thing to remember is that flu symptoms can vary from child to child (and they can change as the illness progresses), so if you suspect the flu, call your child's doctor