Flu or a cold: describe how symptoms start and change

A cold and flu are viral infections with some overlapping symptoms. A cold mainly affects the nose and throat; flu can combine a high fever, chills, widespread aches and marked tiredness. This pattern guides assessment without confirming the cause.

A blocked nose does not rule out flu, and a fever does not identify the responsible virus. Covid can also cause a similar pattern. The doctor considers the examination and decides whether a test or further assessment is useful.

To explain the episode, note what started first and what appeared or worsened afterwards. Say whether you can drink, carry on with daily activities and breathe normally. This practical preparation describes the course of illness; it is not a diagnostic score.

Seek prompt medical advice if you are pregnant, older or have a chronic condition, or if you suspect flu in a baby. Fever returning after improvement or unusual symptoms also calls for prompt reassessment.

Call 15 or 112 for severe difficulty breathing, blue lips or an inability to finish sentences. These signs take priority over looking for a medicine, a test or a prevention appointment.

After the illness has been assessed, you can prepare prevention questions, including flu vaccination as appropriate to your circumstances. The Mon bilan prévention page explains the prevention service; that discussion does not replace assessment of current symptoms.