see also:
| clinical feature | influenza | common cold |
|---|---|---|
| fever > 38 deg C | usual, lasts 3-4 days | uncommon |
| dry cough | common early | unusual early unless asthmatic, common late perhaps due to post-nasal drip |
| headache | usual early and can be severe | common but usually mild unless develops sinusitis |
| aches and pains | usual and can be severe | rare |
| fatigue and weakness | usual and can last 2-3 weeks or more after acute illness | sometimes but mild |
| debilitating fatigue | usual, early onset can be severe | rare |
| nausea, vomiting & diarrhoea | in children < 5 yrs age | rare |
| watering of eyes | rare | usual |
| runny, snuffly nose | less significant | a significant symptom |
| sneezing | rare, and in early stages | usual |
| sore throat | usual | usual |
| chest discomfort | usual and can be severe | sometimes but usually mild |
| complications | respiratory failure; can worsen cardiac failure and other chronic conditions; 16x increased risk of myocardial infarction in adults not taking antiplatelet Rx 5) | otitis media; sinusitis |
| fatalities | 1% of seasonal cases | not reported |
| prevention | influenza vaccine; frequent hand washing; cover cough; | frequent hand washing; cover cough/sneezing |