Each year, an estimated 200,000 people in the U.S. are admitted to the hospital because of the flu, and thousands of them die from it. Many of these people are elderly, young or infirm, and some may or may not have had flu shots. While the flu shot is our best insurance against contracting the flu, some people don’t receive flu shots for a variety of reasons, including an allergy to the shot or fear surrounding the (mostly baseless) stories of how a flu shot is worse than the flu itself.
Whatever the case, anyone who has spent a couple days hacking his or her chest out and feeling like they’ve been run over by a truck knows that the flu is bad news. But now there is help available for many of us in the form of the FDA-approved oral drug Tamiflu, available from online pharmacy eDrugstore.com. Tamiflu helps prevent the flu from occurring in people who know they’ve been exposed to it; helps stop the flu from progressing in people who are just coming down with it; and helps ease symptoms for people who are already experiencing it and take it within 48 hours.
The Difference between Flu Symptoms and Cold Symptoms
Quite often, we have trouble telling the difference between flu symptoms and cold symptoms. While the two do have some things in common, the flu is usually much more severe and potentially dangerous. The table below compares flu and cold symptoms.
How Tamiflu Can Help
Tamiflu does not “cure” the flu and is no substitute for a flu shot. But in lieu of a shot, Tamiflu may be the next best thing when you know you’ve been exposed, feel the flu coming on, or have had it for less than 48 hours and hope to speed the healing process.
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Symptom:
Running a fever or temperature
Influenza or Flu:
A fever is normally present with the flu in as much as 80% of flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for three to four days is usually associated with the flu.
Cold:
A fever is unusual with a cold.
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Symptom:
Cough
Influenza or Flu:
A non-mucus producing cough, sometimes called a dry cough, is usually present with the flu, often resulting in chest and bronchial discomfort.
Cold:
A hacking, “productive” (mucus-producing) cough is often a symptom of a cold.
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Symptom:
Chills
Influenza or Flu:
Six out of 10 people who have the flu get the chills.
Cold:
Chills are not a normal part of having a cold
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Symptom:
Stuffy Nose
Influenza or Flu:
Stuffy nose is not normally a part of having the flu
Cold:
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold.
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Symptom:
Fatigue
Influenza or Flu:
Fatigue, or feeling overly-tired, is often moderate to severe with the flu
Cold:
Fatigue is normally fairly mild with a cold.
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Symptom:
Sneezing
Influenza or Flu:
Sneezing is not common with the flu, but can happen, as that’s how the flu is often spread to begin with. Sneezing can occur for a number of reasons not associated with illness, such as allergies or dust.
Cold:
Sneezing is quite common with a cold.
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