Do you have flu or cold?

Flu is a condition caused by the influenza virus and characterized by sudden onset of high fever, extreme weakness, severe joint and muscle pain, headache and cough. Flu, on the other hand, is a condition caused by different viruses, with a milder course, accompanied by weakness, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and malaise, and does not require bed rest.

Flu affects the quality of life greatly, requires special treatment and nutrition regulation. It is a condition that requires extra fluid consumption and bed rest. It is an infectious disease that progresses with complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia in children, the elderly, pregnant women, heart, blood pressure and diabetes patients, chronic lung disease and chronic kidney disease, and can be fatal. Complaints begin within 2-3 days after receiving the virus, the disease lasts for 7-15 days, but complaints of weakness, cough and widespread pain may last up to 3 weeks.

Differences between flu and cold:

While flu has a very high fever, fever is rare in cold.

While flu causes severe headache, joint and muscle pain, it is rare in cold.

While there is extreme fatigue in flu, there is mild malaise in cold and it does not affect daily life

While there is a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat in the cold, these are rare in the flu.

Cough is common in the flu, but rare in the common cold.

While complications such as sinusitis and ear infection develop in the cold, acute bronchitis in the flu. and more serious and life-threatening complications such as pneumonia are observed.

The easiest way to find out whether you have flu or cold is to consult a doctor and have the necessary examinations. With the results you will get in about 1 hour, you can find out whether you have flu or cold and start the necessary medication with the guidance of your doctor accordingly.

The best treatment for both infections is prevention. Especially babies older than 6 months, pregnant women, people with chronic lung and kidney diseases, people with heart, blood pressure and diabetes, or people with weak immune systems should not neglect the flu vaccine. If you do not want to transmit your disease to people around you or get an infection, wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, Frequently ventilating your environment, using gels that provide hand disinfection, and avoiding being in closed spaces with inadequate ventilation can help protect you.

Today, there are very effective antiviral drugs for flu treatment, but the doctor should decide which one to use. In addition to antiviral drugs, painkillers that provide symptomatic treatment, nasal sprays for nasal congestion, vitamin supplements and drugs that strengthen the immune system can be used. Antibiotics have no place in flu treatment. For the flu, it is sufficient to use symptomatic treatment if necessary.

The best way to get rid of the flu is to continue treatment uninterruptedly, consume plenty of liquids and herbal teas (such as rosehip, turmeric, linden, eucalyptus), rest and pay attention to nutrition. .

In recent studies, it has been found that high-dose vitamin C and vitamin D supplements administered intravenously strengthen the immune system, reduce the risk of flu, and shorten the symptoms and duration of the disease.

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