Cold and Flu Treatment

When you’re feeling under the weather with cold and flu symptoms, you don’t want to wait days for an appointment or spend hours in a crowded waiting room. At Complete Care, we understand that the cold and flu can strike at any time, leaving you feeling miserable and needing fast care. Our emergency-trained doctors are here to help you and your loved ones feel better faster with comprehensive treatment options that address your symptoms and get you back on your feet.

Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn head cold, seasonal flu, or you’re not sure which one has you feeling poorly, Complete Care’s ER locations are designed to provide efficient, high-quality care. Thanks to our onsite rapid testing, we are able to evaluate your symptoms, provide an accurate diagnosis, and create a personalized treatment plan that helps you recover quickly while preventing complications.

For life-threatening situations, please call 911.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

How do I know if it’s a cold or the flu?
- Flu symptoms
- Cold symptoms
What causes the common cold and the flu?
How to treat a cold and flu
When should you go to the ER for the flu or a cold?

How do I know if it’s a cold or the flu?

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, especially in the early stages when you first start feeling sick. While both are respiratory illnesses caused by viruses, they have distinct characteristics that can help you identify which one you’re dealing with. Signs of a cold typically develop gradually and are generally milder, while flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly and hit you much harder.

Flu symptoms

The flu typically strikes fast and hard, often making you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck. Unlike a cold, flu symptoms usually appear suddenly and can be quite severe, affecting your entire body rather than just your nose and throat. The influenza virus tends to cause more intense symptoms that can leave you bedridden for several days.

So, what are the symptoms of the flu?

High fever (usually 100°F or higher)
Severe body aches and muscle pain
Extreme fatigue and weakness
Dry cough
Headache
Chills and sweats
Sore throat
Stuffy or runny nose (less common than with colds)

Flu symptoms are typically more severe than cold symptoms, affecting your whole body and often requiring more rest and recovery time.

Cold symptoms

Common colds develop more gradually and are generally milder than the flu, though they can still make you feel pretty miserable. Cold symptoms usually focus on your upper respiratory system — your nose, throat, and sinuses — rather than affecting your entire body. While uncomfortable, colds rarely cause the severe fatigue and high fever associated with the flu.

So, what are the symptoms of a common cold?

Runny or stuffy nose
Sneezing
Mild to moderate cough
Sore or scratchy throat
Low-grade fever (rare in adults)
Mild headache
Slight body aches
Mild fatigue

Cold symptoms are typically milder and more localized to your head and throat, allowing most people to continue their daily activities with some discomfort.

Learn more about measles symptoms and treatment, and RSV symptoms and treatments

What causes the common cold and the flu?

Both the common cold and flu are caused by viruses, but they’re triggered by different types of viral infections. Knowing what causes these illnesses can help you take better preventive measures and help you decide when it’s time to seek medical care.

Common cold causes

The common cold is essentially an upper respiratory infection caused by over 200 different viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common culprits. These viruses primarily affect your nose, throat, and sinuses, which is why cold symptoms tend to be concentrated in these areas.

Other viruses that can cause cold-like symptoms include coronaviruses (not the same as COVID-19), adenoviruses, and even some less common ones like roseola infantum virus, though this particular virus more commonly affects young children.

Flu causes

The flu, on the other hand, is caused specifically by influenza viruses — mainly influenza A and B strains that circulate seasonally. These viruses are more aggressive than cold viruses and can affect your entire respiratory system, from your nose and throat down to your lungs.

While most people recover from colds and flu without complications, both illnesses can sometimes lead to more serious conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia, especially in young children, older adults, or people with weakened immune systems. This is why it’s important to monitor your symptoms and seek medical attention if they worsen or don’t improve as expected.

How to treat a cold and flu

While there’s no cure for the common cold or flu, there are many effective ways to manage your symptoms and help your body recover faster. The key is to start treatment early and give your immune system the support it needs to fight off the infection.

Treating a cold:

Get plenty of rest to help your immune system fight the infection
Stay well-hydrated with water, herbal teas, and warm broths
Use a humidifier or breathe steam from a hot shower to ease congestion
Take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for aches
Try throat lozenges or saltwater gargles for sore throat relief
Use saline nasal sprays to help clear stuffy sinuses
Consider zinc or vitamin C supplements (consult with healthcare provider first)

Treating the flu:

Rest is even more critical — your body needs energy to fight this stronger virus
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration from fever and sweating
Take fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage high temperatures
Seek medical care within 48 hours for antiviral medications like Tamiflu
Use a cool mist humidifier to ease respiratory symptoms
Apply warm compresses to relieve muscle aches and pains
Monitor symptoms closely for signs of complications like difficulty breathing

Professional medical treatment can make a significant difference, especially if you seek care within the first 48 hours of symptom onset.

At Complete Care, our medical team can prescribe medications that can shorten the duration of your illness and reduce symptom severity. We can also provide stronger symptom relief medications, evaluate you for complications, and ensure you’re on the right track for recovery.

When should you go to the ER for the flu or a cold?

While most cold and flu cases can be managed with home care and rest, certain symptoms signal that you need immediate medical attention. It’s always better to err on the side of caution when you’re dealing with severe symptoms.

Seek emergency care immediately if you experience:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Chest pain or pressure
High fever (over 103°F) that doesn’t respond to medication
Severe or persistent vomiting that prevents keeping fluids down
Symptoms of severe dehydration (dizziness, dry mouth, little to no urination, extreme thirst)
Sudden severe headache or neck stiffness
Confusion or altered mental state
Bluish lips or face
Severe abdominal pain
Symptoms that improve but then suddenly worsen

Additional warning signs for children:

Fast or troubled breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids or excessive sleepiness
Severe irritability or not wanting to be held
Flu-like symptoms that improve but return with fever and worse cough

At Complete Care’s ER locations, our medical team is equipped to handle serious cold and flu complications quickly and effectively. We can provide immediate interventions like IV fluids for dehydration, oxygen therapy for breathing difficulties, and comprehensive testing to rule out pneumonia or other serious conditions.

Your fastest path to recovery starts at Complete Care

Whether you’re battling your first sniffle or dealing with full-blown flu symptoms, you don’t have to suffer through it alone. Complete Care’s experienced medical team is here to help you recover faster and feel like yourself again.
When cold and flu symptoms strike, you’ll find expert care and compassionate treatment at our convenient locations throughout Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, East Texas, Lubbock, San Antonio, or Colorado Springs. Don’t let illness keep you down — visit Complete Care today and get back to feeling your best.