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While the outbreak of swine flu has caused tens of deaths in the city, the fear of this is lot more. Cold and cough symptoms are so common that people get it during cold climate and when temperature or season change. Lakhs of people are assuming worst case situation when they get cold or cough. Keeping this in view, the following grid furnishes how swine flu differs from other common colds and allergies that can be easily differentiated and understood by an average individual. This article hopefully helps create some sanity.
| CHARACTERISTICS | ALLERGIC COLD | COMMON COLD | SEASONAL FLU | SWINE FLU |
| OVERVIEW | Allergic cold is caused by an overactive immune system where your body mistakes harmless substances like dust or pollen, animal dander, foods, and viruses | It is a self-limited contagious illness that can be caused by different types of viruses and referred to as a viral upper respiratory tract infection | Influenza may be caused by RNA viruses belonging to the Orthomxoviridae family | Swine flu is caused by a family of viruses that are endemic to pigs. Subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are the strains responsible for flu infection |
| DURATION OF INFECTION | Days to months as long as you are exposed to the allergen | 3-14 days | Two – three weeks | 3 – 4 weeks |
| TIME OF YEAR | Any time of the year although the appearance of some allergens are seasonal | Most often in the winter, but possible at any time | In all seasons | Any time in the year and being more contagious in winters |
| ONSET OF SYMPTOMS | Symptoms can begin immediately after exposure to the allergen | Symptoms take a few days to appear after infection with the virus | Appears within 3 to 6 hours. Can infect others one day before symptoms develop and 5-7 days after symptoms appear | Lasts for one day before symptoms appear, and then seven days while the individual has symptoms. It may be a longer period for children, Incubation period – 4 days |
| SYMPTOMS | ||||
| COUGH | Sometimes | A hacking, mucus- producing cough is often present with a cold | A dry and hacking cough is often present with the seasonal flu | A non-mucus producing cough is usually present with H1N1 (referred to as dry cough) |
| CHILLS | – | Chills are uncommon with a cold | Chills are mild to moderate with the seasonal flu | 60% of people who have H1N1 experience chills |
| ACHES | Never present | Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold | Moderate body aches are common with the seasonal flu | Severe aches and pains are common with H1N1 |
| FEVER | Never | Rare | Fever is common | Fever usually present up to 101 degree F with H1N1 in 80% of all flu cases |
| FATIGUE | Sometimes | Lasts up to a few days | Longs up to three weeks or even longer in people with chronic diseases | Lasts up to three weeks and more |
| SORE THROAT | Sometimes | Commonly present | Commonly present | Not commonly present |
| RUNNY OR STUFFY NOSE | Often present | commonly present and typically resolves spontaneously within a week | Runny nose is commonly present | Stuffy nose is not common in H1N1 |
| TIREDNESS | Present | Fairly mild with a cold | Moderate due to lack of energy | Moderate to severe |
| CHEST DISCOMFORT | Sometimes | Mild to moderate | Moderate | Often severe |
| HEAD ACHE | Common | Fairly uncommon | Fairly common | Very common present in 80% of cases |
| ITCHY, WATERY EYES | Often | rarely | present | present |
| SNEEZING | Commonly present | Commonly present | Commonly present | Not common |
| PNEUMONIA | – | – | Occurs at severe cases | Caused due to secondary infection by bacteria after the viral infection developing seizures leading to death if not treated immediately |
| OTHER CHARACTERISTICS | ||||
| COMPLICATIONS | – cSinus infection – Asthma exacerbation |
– Sinus infection – Middle ear infection – Asthma exacerbation |
– Sinusitis, bronchitis – Ear infection – pneumonia can be life-threatening |
– Respiratory illness – Quick breathing – persistent chest pain – unusual skin discoloration – diarrhea, – Pneumonia due to bacterial secondary infection |
| MORTALITY RATE | – | – | 0.001 | 2-20% |
| PREVENTION | Avoid those things that you are allergic to such as – Pollen – House dust mites – Mold – Pet dander – Cockroaches |
– Wash your hands often with soap and water  – Avoid close contact with anyone with a cold | – Wash hands often – Avoid close contact with anyone who has flu symptoms |
– Stay home if you’re sick – Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently – Used tissues while coughing and sneezing The used tissues should be trashed properly – Avoid contact with others – Reduce exposure within your household |
| TREATMENT (optional) | -Antihistamines – Nasal steroids -Decongestants |
– Antihistamines – Decongestants – Non steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicines |
– Decongestants – Pain relievers – Fever reducers – Anti-viral drugs such as Neuraminidase inhibitors and M2 protein inhibitors |
Prescription drugs like Tamiflu or Relenza |
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