83 Cold or Flu?

Every winter, at least in cold climates, people sink into an all-too-familiar round of illness, with sneezing, sore throat, and stuffed-up head a few of the most common symptoms. Sometimes other conditions, such as a severe cough, are also present, and people wonder whether they have simply caught a cold or are suffering from flu. Since the two illnesses have several common characteristics, the confusion is understandable. Colds are generally rather mild annoyances, but flu can be quite serious and lead to pneumonia. So it is wise to be aware of the differences.

Sneezing, stuffy nose, and sore throat are the most common symptoms of colds, and they are often, but not always, present with flu as well. Chest discomfort and coughing may also accompany both ailments, but in flu they have a tendency to become severe, with heavy, hacking coughing and sometimes bronchitis that may last for weeks afterward.

The symptoms particularly distinguishing flu, which are rarely if ever present with the common cold, are headache, high fever, aches and pains all over the body, a general weakness, and exhaustion. Often the illness begins with vague body pains and headache, then quickly escalates as the victim’s bodily temperature becomes elevated and extreme fatigue sets in. Sufferers may find themselves in bed for several days, sleeping much of the time and battling temperatures of 102–104 degrees. Waking moments may be spent coughing uncontrollably.

Though there is presently no cure for the common cold, antibiotics can counteract certain strains of flu. And getting a flu shot at the beginning of each season is a particularly good idea.

83 感冒还是流感？

每年冬天，至少在寒冷地区，人们都会陷入熟悉的患病循环，打喷嚏、喉咙痛、鼻塞是最常见的症状之一。有时还会出现严重咳嗽等其他症状，人们会疑惑自己只是感冒了，还是患上了流感。由于这两种疾病有一些共同特征，这种混淆是可以理解的。感冒通常只是轻微的困扰，但流感可能相当严重，甚至引发肺炎。因此，了解两者的区别是明智的。

打喷嚏、鼻塞和喉咙痛是感冒最常见的症状，这些症状也常出现在流感中，但并非每次流感都会出现。胸部不适和咳嗽也可能伴随这两种疾病，但在流感中，这些症状往往会加重，出现剧烈的干咳，有时还会引发支气管炎，可能持续数周。

流感特有的症状（普通感冒很少出现）包括头痛、高烧、全身酸痛、全身乏力和疲惫。流感通常始于模糊的身体疼痛和头痛，随后患者体温升高、极度疲劳，症状迅速加重。患者可能会卧床数日，大部分时间都在睡觉，同时与102到104华氏度的高烧作斗争。清醒时可能会出现无法控制的咳嗽。

虽然目前普通感冒尚无治愈方法，但抗生素可以对抗某些流感毒株。而且在每个流感季节开始时接种流感疫苗是个特别好的主意。