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Is it a cold or the flu?

Your child is sent home from school with a sore throat, cough, and high fever — could it be the flu that's been going around? Or, is it just a common cold? Before you can figure out how to help your child feel better, you need to know what it is that's making your child sick. "Typically, influenza (also known as the flu) has symptoms that make a child feel worse than symptoms associated with a common cold, but it's not always that easy to differentiate between the two," states David Zalut, MD, chairman of family practice for Virtua West Jersey Hospitals. A guide to symptoms
Treatment
Flu vs. Cold: a guide to symptoms
Following is a guide to help you determine whether your child's fighting the flu or combating a cold.
Was your child's onset of illness... sudden? Flu
OR slow? Cold
Does your child have a... high fever? Flu
OR no (or mild) fever? Cold
Is your child's exhaustion level... severe? Flu
OR mild? Cold
Is your child's cough... dry? Flu
OR severe/hacking? Cold
Is your child's throat... fine? Flu
OR sore? Cold
Is your child's nose... dry and clear? Flu
OR runny? Cold
Is your child's head... achy? Flu
OR fine? Cold
Is your child's appetite... decreased? Flu
OR normal? Cold
Are your child's muscles... achy? Flu
OR fine? Cold
Does your child have... chills? Flu
OR no chills? Cold
If most of your answers fall into the first category, chances are that your child has the flu. If most of your answers fall in the second category, it's most likely a cold. Symptoms can vary, so when in doubt, call your child's doctor. Treatment
Dr. Zalut offers the following suggestions for treating the flu or a cold:

1. Manage cold or flu symptoms with over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines or cough medicines.
2. Never give aspirin to a child under age 16. A potentially fatal disease called Reye's syndrome can develop in children who take aspirin while they have a viral illness such as the flu or a cold. Instead, treat aches and pains with analgesics such as acetaminophen.
3. Encourage drinking extra clear fluids, especially if your child has a fever.

"Over-the-counter medications should only be used for a few days," advises Dr. Zalut. "If symptoms don't improve, or if your child's condition worsens, make an appointment with your family physician or pediatrician."