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Article: Flu/Colds; Facts to Know.
- Article from:
- NWHRC Health Center - Flu/Colds
- Article date:
- March 16, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 National Women's Health Resource Center. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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* Influenza, or the flu, is a viral disease of the respiratory tract-the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. It's similar to a cold in that both are caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract, mainly in the winter season, and both can cause symptoms such as coughing and sore throat. A cold is a minor viral infection of the nose and throat, and its primary symptoms are nasal stuffiness, sore throat and cough. Influenza is a more serious infection, and its major symptoms are high fever, severe aches and pains, and tiredness and weakness. The flu symptoms appear much more suddenly than those of a cold.
* The flu is highly contagious and is spread though ...