Dr. Derek Farley sees patients daily at his family medicine practice, Precision DPC, in Denton, TX. Our doctor is here to serve your healthcare needs as an experienced, skilled, licensed, and board-certified primary care physician. We get many questions about the flu and the common cold, and we are here to explain the differences between these two illnesses.

The Key Differences Between The Flu and The Common Cold

Don't wait until you become ill to wonder if you have a common cold or if the flu has struck you. Know the difference before you become sick. 

At this time, questions arise, and you ask yourself, "I wonder if this is a cold, or do I have the flu?" While the symptoms of each illness are similar, there remain some stark differences that are good to know. Our doctor is here to explain.

Our family medicine practice, Precision DPC in Denton, TX, wants to remind you to get your yearly flu shot. It is wise to always get your vaccination at the start of the fall season. The flu is dangerous, and every year, this bug mutates into something different from the year before. 

Many people of all age ranges die from the flu every year. While a flu vaccination doesn't guarantee you don't get the flu, this vaccination significantly reduces the impact the flu has on your body. The following are some key differences to knowing what makes you feel sick: the flu or a cold. An antibiotic only works if you have a bacterial infection, not a virus like the flu or a cold.

The Flu

The flu symptoms are worse than cold symptoms and begin suddenly. The flu has serious complications, even death if it becomes severe. The flu can become pneumonia and cause hospital admissions. Symptoms of the flu are: 

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose (rare)
• Body aches
• Headache
• Excess fatigue

 The Common Cold

A cold usually develops due to rhinovirus, but could also be parainfluenza or a seasonal coronavirus. It doesn’t usually last longer than ten days and severe cases are rare compared to flu, but there is no vaccine for it. Common symptoms include:

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Headache (rare)
• Low-grade fever (rare)
• Chills (rare)
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Body aches (mild)
• Sore throat

 A Different Slant on Primary Care!

If you reside in Denton, TX, and seek a quality, caring, and compassionate family medicine doctor, call Precision DPC at 940-900-6050 for an appointment. We are eager to meet you and your family and serve your healthcare needs with a different slant, much as doctors did when they made house calls years ago. We can explain how our practice runs.