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Flu Season is Upon Us - The Differences Between Cold and Flu Symptoms
Lisa Reisman • Aug 28, 2019
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Flu Season is Upon Us
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season has been shown to be exponentially more dangerous for the elderly community in comparison to younger adults due to their weakened immune systems. “In recent years, for example, it’s estimated that between 71 percent and 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older and between 54 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in that age group.” It’s important to recognize how the flu differentiates from the common cold so that you and your loved ones stay protected this flu season, as well as understanding the benefits getting vaccinated— something simple that could save lives.
Cold Symptoms vs. Flu Symptoms
The flu is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza A or B virus. The flu can be easily transmitted by contact with another infected person, for example, by shaking hands. Flu season usually begins in winter and goes until late spring, for Georgia it is said to begin in October and last until late May. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu, and has symptoms lasting a few days to a week. The flu however, can show symptoms lasting several weeks and severely compromise an individual’s immune system.
A cold has symptoms that usually start in the throat, making it sore for the first couple days. Runny nose and cough are common cold symptoms as well, usually appearing in the 5th day of sickness. A cold also allows your nose to have watery secretions that can eventually turn darker and thicker in a mucus-like substance. Someone with a cold usually feels unwell for up to a week, sometimes more. If you feel your symptoms have gotten worse, it could mean you’ve developed a bacterial infection in which you’d need to contact your physician for antibiotics.
Often fatigue is an early sign of both a cold and the flu. However, with the flu as well as many other symptoms, it’s more severe upon infection. The flu has more aggressive symptoms that include cough, headache, sore throat, chest discomfort, and loss of strength and energy. Additional symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhea, in particular those associating with the swine flu. Another major difference is the presence of a fever— in the elderly, be sure to monitor fever if they’re exhibiting signs of a cold or the flu, people with just a cold rarely have a fever raising above 101 degrees.
Flu Prevention
The best way to prevent a flu shot is to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older should get a seasonal flu vaccine each year by the end of October. This is especially important for those 65 years of age and older because they are at higher risk for developing complications from the flu— like pneumonia. The flu vaccine is updated every year to protect against the latest strains of the virus; there are 100 different types of cold viruses known and new strains of the flu evolve each year. A flu vaccine protects against the strain that research proves will be the most prevalent in the upcoming season.
The following information is provided to us by the CDC website, and informs us that there are two vaccines that are specifically designed for the 65 and older community:
-The “high dose vaccine”
is designed specifically for people 65 and older and contains 4 times the amount of antigen as the regular flu shot. It is associated with a stronger immune response following vaccination (higher antibody production). Results from a clinical trial of more than 30,000 participants showed that adults 65 years and older who received the high dose vaccine had 24% fewer influenza infections as compared to those who received the standard dose flu vaccine. The high dose vaccine has been approved for use in the United States since 2009.
-The adjuvanted flu vaccine, Fluad, is made with MF59 adjuvant, which is designed to help create a stronger immune response to vaccination. In a Canadian observational study of 282 persons aged 65 years and older conducted during the 2011-12 season, Fluad was 63% more effective than regular-dose unadjuvanted flu shots. There are no randomized studies comparing Fluad with Fluzone High-Dose. This vaccine will be available for the first time in the United States during the 2016-2017 season.
“Both the high dose and adjuvanted vaccine may result in more of the mild side effects that can occur with standard-dose seasonal shots. Mild side effects can include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle ache, and malaise.”
In addition to getting vaccinated, practicing healthy habits can help you and your loved one to reduce the risk of contracting the flu. Avoid crowds when possible— it’s understandably hard to avoid crowds if you or a loved one is in assisted living; however, these flu vaccines are seasonally administered in these types of housing. Still, try to keep clear of people who are coughing and sneezing as much as possible in a group setting, and be sure to wash your hands immediately after interacting with someone you think is getting ill.
If you are starting to experience symptoms that you think might be related to the flu, contact your primary care physician immediately. You don’t want to be one of the hundreds of thousands of those who are hospitalized each year with complications from influenza. Many times an insurance company will pay for a flu shot making it free and easily accessible to those wanting to get vaccinated. For more information regarding the flu vaccine, visit https://www.publichealth.va.gov/flu/vaccination/index.asp.
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