Distinguishing A Common Cold From The Flu
| Common Cold | Swine Flu | Seasonal Flu |
| Rare to have fever with common cold | Fever is present in 80% of cases – 101 degrees is common | Common to have fever with seasonal flu |
| Hacking, productive cough often present | Dry cough (non-mucus producing) is usually present with H1N1 | Dry, hacking cough is often present with seasonal flu |
| Slight body aches and pains can be common | Severe aches and pains are common | Moderate body aches are common |
| Stuffy nose commonly present and resolves spontaneously within a week | Stuffy nose not commonly present | Runny nose commonly present |
| Chills are uncommon with a cold | 60% of people who have H1N1 experience chills | Chills are mild to moderate with seasonal flu |
| Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold | Tiredness is moderate to severe with H1N1 | Tiredness is moderate and more likely referred to as a lack of energy with seasonal flu |
| Sneezing is commonly present with a cold | Sneezing is not common with H1N1 | Sneezing is commonly present with seasonal flu |
| Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days | H1N1 has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. H1N1 hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days depending on the individual, diarrhea is common | Symptoms tend to develop over a few days and include flushed face, loss of appetite, dizziness and/or vomiting/nausea. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual, diarrhea is common. |
| Headache is fairly uncommon with a cold | Headache is very common with H1N1 and present in 80% of cases | Headache is fairly common with seasonal flu |
| Sore throat is commonly present with a cold | Sore throat is not commonly present with H1N1 | Sore throat is commonly present with the seasonal flu |