In the early stages of the flu, cold, or pneumonia, it can be difficult to differentiate symptoms to determine which illness you’ve contracted. It’s critically important to understand the differences among these conditions. While the common cold often clears up on its own, the flu can lead to complications. Pneumonia demands immediate medical treatment. To determine whether you should see a family doctor for your illness, here is some background information on each.

A Guide to Colds, the Flu, & Pneumonia

Signs of a Cold

Cold symptoms can be frustrating, but aren’t as concerning as influenza or pneumonia. Caused by the rhinovirus, colds are characterized by coughing, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and headache. Cold symptoms may creep up and leave you feeling under the weather, but generally, you should start feeling more energized after a few days.

Signs of the Flu

Although the flu is also the result of a virus, its symptoms are more severe and tend to appear quicker. In addition to the cold symptoms listed above, the flu is accompanied by high fever, loss of appetite, body aches, chills, and severe fatigue. If your fever doesn’t subside with over-the-counter medications, consult with your family doctor. The flu also affects the upper respiratory tract and can move downwards, affecting the lungs and causing pneumonia.

Signs of Pneumonia

Pneumonia can vary in severity, and in some cases, it’s even possible to have it without knowing it. Pneumonia is more likely to affect very young and elderly individuals, and it’s an infection that can occur in one or both lungs. Signs include chest pain when breathing or coughing, a fever accompanied by chills and sweat, green or yellow mucus, and fatigue. In the case of bacterial pneumonia, a family doctor can prescribe antibiotics, while viral pneumonia won’t respond to medications. In either case, the infection demands ample rest to make a healthy recovery.

No matter which type of illness you may have, the family doctors from Patient Choice Medical Care make it their goal to help you feel better. Serving Hamden, CT, this medical clinic can help you find relief from cold and flu symptoms while also treating more complex illnesses. Eligible patients can also receive their flu or pneumococcal immunizations in the office if they haven’t already done so. To set up an appointment, call (203) 535-0262, or contact visit their website to see a list of their services.