Work At Home Safari

If you’re like me, you’ve been hearing a lot of buzz on the news and radio about flu shots, Swine Flu, colds, seasonal flu, and many other things to avoid this upcoming season and frankly, it can be a little confusing. As a work-at-home mom, I want to keep my family healthy so I can keep my business going instead of tending to a sick child.

Here’s some information I found online that may help you decipher between the symptoms of a cold and the possible Swine Flu or H1N1 flu.

Cold

• Fever is rare with a cold.
• A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
• Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
• Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
• Chills are uncommon with a cold.
• Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
• Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
• Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
• A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
• Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
• Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.

Swine Flu

• Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
• A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
• Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
• Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
• 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
• Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
• Sneezing is not common with the flu.
• The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
• A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
• Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu..
• Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

For detailed information, the Centers for Disease Control has tons of free information to help you and your family stay healthy this cold and flu season.  Also, if you have any questions, please consult a nurse or physician.

You might also like:

1. How to Prepare Your Business for the Swine Flu