It’s morning. Your daughter wakes up with a scratchy throat and a stuffy nose. By lunchtime she’s warm to the touch, curled up on the couch, and not interested in her favorite snack. So which is it: a run-of-the-mill cold…or the flu?
It’s one of the most common questions parents have this time of year, and the honest answer is that it can be tricky to tell.
Colds and the flu are both respiratory illnesses, and they share a lot of the same symptoms. Still, there are a few patterns worth knowing. Here’s the info you need to navigate cold and flu season for kids.
Common Cold Symptoms in Kids
Colds tend to creep in slowly. Your child might feel a little off for a day before the sniffles really settle in. Typical cold symptoms include:
- A runny nose
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- A mild cough
- A mild sore throat
- Lower energy than usual
Most kids with a cold can still play, eat, and get through the day, even if they’re a bit grumpy about it.
Common Flu Symptoms in Kids
The flu often feels different because of how fast it arrives.
Many parents describe a child who seemed perfectly fine in the morning and was wiped out by the afternoon. Flu symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Cough
- Sore throat
These patterns are helpful clues, not hard rules. Some children with the flu have fairly mild symptoms, and some colds can make a child feel pretty rough. Sudden onset body aches may lean more toward flu, but they don’t guarantee it.
Why Testing May Help
Cold and flu symptoms also overlap with COVID, RSV, strep throat, and other illnesses, so guessing based on symptoms alone isn’t always reliable. Testing can help a provider better understand what’s behind your child’s symptoms and recommend next steps.
What Parents Can Do at Home
While your child is under the weather, a few simple steps can help them rest and stay comfortable:
- Encourage plenty of rest
- Offer fluids often
- Keep an eye on how symptoms change
- Follow any guidance from your child’s provider
- Keep your child home when school policies recommend it
(And as always, plenty of pampering and cuddles.)
When to Visit KidsStreet Urgent Care
If symptoms aren’t an emergency but you’d feel better having someone take a look, KidsStreet offers urgent care for kids in a setting built around children. A visit may be a good idea if your child has:
- A fever that isn’t getting better
- Flu symptoms that came on suddenly
- A cough along with a fever
- A sore throat with swollen glands
- Ear pain
- Symptoms that seem to be worsening
- Trouble drinking fluids
- Symptoms that may need testing
Your instincts count, too. If you’re worried, that’s a good reason to have a provider take a look.
When to Go to the ER
Go to the nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1 if your child shows any of these signs:
- Trouble breathing
- Blue color around the lips or face
- Chest pain
- Severe dehydration
- Confusion or extreme sleepiness
- A seizure
- Any symptom that feels life-threatening
If you’re ever unsure whether something is an emergency, it’s always okay to choose the emergency room.
Visit KidsStreet for Cold and Flu Concerns
Whether it turns out to be a cold, the flu, or something else, you don’t have to wait until morning to have your child’s symptoms checked.
KidsStreet is open late 7 days a week! Our providers can review your child’s symptoms, offer testing when appropriate, and help you plan your next steps.
Register online to save your spot in line! Online registration is not an appointment, but it can help reduce in-clinic wait times by adding you to the queue before you arrive.