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Parent Information: Is It a Cold or the Flu?
Please help us maintain a healthy environment at R. L. Turner by keeping your child at home if they have the signs or symptoms of the flu.
Thank you,
Heather Hays, RN
| Symptoms | Cold | Flu |
| Fever | Rare | Characteristic, high (102-104°F); lasts 3-4 days |
| Headache | Rare | Prominent |
| General Aches and Pains | Slight | Usual; often severe |
| Fatigue, Weakness | Quite mild | Can last up to 2-3 weeks |
| Extreme Exhaustion | Never | Early and prominent |
| Stuffy Nose | Common | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Usual | Sometimes |
| Sore Throat | Common | Sometimes |
| Chest Discomfort, Cough | Mild to moderate; hacking cough | Common; can become severe |
| Complications | Sinus congestion or earache | Bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening |
| Prevention | None | Annual vaccination; antiviral medicines (see your doctor) |
| Treatment | Only temporary relief of symptoms | Antiviral medicines (see your doctor) |
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, April 2001