|What are the symptoms?||Sore throat; runny nose; nasal congestion; watery eyes; and sneezing are the most common symptoms. Some people may also experience a cough and mild fatigue and body aches||Fever, often high and lasting 3-4 days; headache; body aches; severe fatigue lasting up to 2 or 3 weeks; cough, (usually a dry cough) are the most common symptoms. Some people may also experience a runny nose, congestion or sore throat||Persistent dry cough or productive cough, fever and chills, difficulty breathing, chest pain, headache|
|How long does it take from the time of infection until symptoms begin?||1 - 3 days||1 - 3 days||1 - 3 days|
|How long does it last?||3 - 7 days||1 - 2 weeks||Pneumonia can be caused by a virus or bacteria. The duration of the illness will depend on the germ.|
|How long are people infectious (able to spread the disease)?||Varies from 2 days to 3 weeks||Up to 7 days from the start of symptoms||This is not known for sure, although the theory is that communicability may end within 24 hours of beginning antibiotic treatment.|
|How is it treated?||Colds are caused by a virus, usually a rhinovirus; antibiotics will not help anyone recover from a cold. |
We all know this, but, there really is no cure for the cold. The best treatment is to get plenty of rest and drink a lot of liquids. Over-the-counter cough and cold products may offer temporary relief of some of the symptoms.
|Flu is caused by a virus; antibiotics will not help anyone recover from the flu. |
There are anti-viral medicines available that may help reduce the severity and duration of the flu, but only if started within 48 hours of the start of symptoms. Other treatment includes getting plenty of rest and drinking a lot of liquids. Aspirin or acetaminophen will help reduce fever and muscle aches. Children with the flu should NOT take aspirin.
|People with bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics. |
People with viral pneumonia usually get well with supportive care (plenty of fluids, rest, good nutrition). Severe viral pneumonia is treated with antiviral medicines. See the doctor if a productive cough or a cough with fever lasts longer than 3 weeks.
|What causes it?||Colds are caused by any one of hundreds of different viruses. The virus is spread through respiratory drops when a person coughs or sneezes. The large number of viruses that can cause a cold is one reason that a vaccine has not/cannot be developed at this time||Influenza is caused by a virus. The virus is spread through respiratory drops when a person coughs or sneezes. There are different types of flu viruses, but the most common are Type A and Type B. There are various strains of each which are usually named after the area where they were first identified. Each year they can change, so that is why people need to get the vaccine each year.||Most pneumonia infections are caused by exposure to a common bacteria or virus. People with weakened immune systems are more likely to catch pneumonia.|
|What can people do to avoid these "bugs"?||WASH YOUR HANDS!Frequent hand washing is the best defense against cold viruses. Avoiding crowds, and limiting contact with people who are coughing or sneezing will also help to reduce the chance of getting a cold||GET A FLU SHOT!* The shot can't cause the flu. The worst case is that in a very few cases, a person's arm may be a little sore for a few days or, even less likely, the person may feel weak or have a slight fever for a couple of days. Avoiding crowds and frequent hand washing will also help to reduce the risk of getting the flu.||PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK SHOULD GET A PNEUMONIA VACCINE!Those at high risk include: |
* If you are allergic to eggs, pregnant or have a chronic disease, check with your physician before getting a flu shot.
Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control