Fever- You normally don’t get a fever with a cold, while a 100-degree-plus temperature is common with a flu bug. So, if you get out your trusty thermometer and it doesn’t crack triple-digits, you probably have a cold.

Aches and Pains- The flu is marked by headaches and other bad aches around the body; colds tend not to have as many aches.

Chills-Chills are more of a symptom of the flu.

Phlegm Fatale- A cold will produce a lot of mucus, producing chest congestion and stuffed-up sinuses; cold will produce coughs that will bring up plenty of mucus, while flu coughs are usually drier.

Speed- The flu tends to hit very quickly, within 3-6 hours, while cold symptoms are slower to manifest themselves. You may “think you have a cold” but you’ll know it when you get the flu.

Also, don’t confuse H1N1 with rotaviruses that are commonly called stomach flu or intestinal flu; rotaviruses cause vomiting and diarrhea rather than a dry cough and plenty of aches; if you’re “praying to the porcelain gods Rolf and Earl”, you probably have a rotavirus rather than the flu.

If you do have the flu, there isn’t much the doctor can do. Antibiotics don’t work on either colds or flues, since they are viruses rather than bacteria. You need antivirals to go after the flu, but those have higher side-effects than antibiotics and are generally reserved for very bad cases or people with poor immune systems.

There are a number of things that you can do, many of which are old-school disease treating tools. Drink plenty of liquids, which will give your system the tools needed to flush things out. Get plenty of rest, since your immune system is working overtime and needs to have all hands on deck to get rid of this nasty invader.

Lastly, stay home. Going to work or school runs the risk of giving your coworkers and classmates the same joy you’re going through, so tell your inner tough guy to get lost and stay put.

The most common of them all is allergy to pollen, or as it is called “Hay Fever”. It is a seasonal allergy most common in the spring and fall. Symptoms are watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion. There are many over the counter medication that address this problem by administering anti histamine that blocks the body’s reaction to those normally not harmful substances. 

To prevent the appearance of the allergy in the first place, one has to avoid certain plants that are known as allergens by removing them from the immediate surrounding and staying indoors when the wind is blowing especially during the blooming season.

Dust mite Allergy is caused by those microscopic organisms that thrive in house dust and in the mattress one sleeps on. The symptoms are like those of the pollen allergy but they continue all year round. The same medications that helps pollen allergies might help the dust mite allergy.

To prevent the allergy from starting, it is advised to keep the house, especially the bedroom clear of dust, cover the mattress and pillows with dust covers and wash the sheets weekly in hot water. Stuffed animals, rugs and curtains also contain dust mites.

Mold allergy – mold is a fungi that has microscopic spores that get released to the air and breathed in by us. Mold can be found in bathrooms, basements and closets and needs the presence of humidity to thrive. The symptoms are similar to those of pollen allergy with the addition of a dry cough.

Animal dander – The saliva, oil glands and skin of certain animals cause an allergic reaction in some people. The symptoms are runny nose, itchy eyes and skin itch. Unfortunately the treatment and prevention of those kind of allergies requires the removal of the pet from the house. Medication might help but you’ll have to keep taking it all day every day.

Latex allergy – Those gloves used by doctors and nurses cause allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can include watery eyes, skin rash, cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. They can be moderate to severe with hives developing and gastrointestinal problems. It is important for those people to wear a medical bracelet in case they will need an unexpected medical attention that can be aggravated by the use of latex gloves.

Environmental allergies are uncomfortable and annoying but the symptoms are usually mild. A twenty four hour antihistamine can solve the problem without too many side affects.