Is it a Cold or H1N1?

Having had a few patients come in to my chiropractic, nutrition and functional medicine clinic in Portland and email me with this questions, I thought I’d write a blog with some info and a couple of resources to help answer this problem. This blog is not meant to diagnose or treat anyone with any type of ailment and is written for information purposes only. If you truly want to differentiate between H1N1 and a cold, you should go see a healthcare provider or call a local nurse hotline.

Here’s some info to help you differentiate between H1Ni and a cold:

Fever

• Fever is rare with a cold.
• Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.

Coughing

• A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
• A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches

• Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
• Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.

Stuffy Nose

• Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
• Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

Chills

• Chills are uncommon with a cold.
• 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.

Tiredness

• Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
• Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.

Sneezing

• Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
• Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.

Sudden Symptoms

• Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
• The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache

• A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
• A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore Throat

• Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
• Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

Chest Discomfort

• Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
• Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

Here are some more resources about H1N1:

Cold? Flu? H1N1? How can you tell the difference?

Is It Cold, Flu or H1N1? How to Tell

Is It a Cold or N1N1?

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