Influenza vs. Cold vs. Pertussis

Influenza vs. Cold vs. Pertussis

Symptom

Fever Chills Headache Aches and pains, muscle aches, chest discomfort

Fatigue and weakness

Extreme exhaustion

Influenza ("Flu")

Colds (Viral URI)

Usually present & high (102-104?F or 39-40?C); typically lasts 3-4 days Common Very common

Uncommon If present, typically low-grade

Uncommon Uncommon

Very common Often severe

Slight to Moderate

Moderate - severe; can last up to 14-21 days

Mild

Very common early in illness

Extremely Rare

Pertussis

Uncommon If present, typically low-grade

Rare Uncommon

Uncommon

Mild; Usually appears well between

coughing attacks Rare

Stuffy or runny nose Sneezing

Sore throat

Character

Common Sometimes Common

Non-productive ("dry") cough is typical

Cough

Severity

Moderate

Duration

Paroxysms (coughing fits)

Typically 3-7 days; occasionally to 14 days

Uncommon

Infectious Period

1 day before symptom onset and 3-7 days after

*or until taking 5 days of appropriate anti-pertussis antibiotics

Very common

Common, early in the disease

Common

Common, early in the disease

Common

Uncommon

Variable character; fits / paroxysms and

Hacking cough, often

nocturnal cough are common; generally

productive; usually responds to not responsive to cough medications;

cough medications

"whooping" may or

may not

occur Variable; mild to severe;

Mild to Moderate

infants appear quite ill and may present

with cough or apnea

Persistent cough, almost always >1

Typically 3-7 days

week, usually 2-6 weeks, sometimes

10+ weeks

Rare

Common; often leads to vomiting or gagging

From start of catarrhal phase (before

Variable; typically 4-7 days after cough) to 21 days after cough onset*

symptom onset; can be longer Most efficient spreading after cough

onset

Iowa Department of Public Health 12/10/04

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