A runny nose and sore throat is sometimes nothing more than a mean case of the sniffles.

Cold symptoms and the flu often exhibit the same symptoms, with severity the only noticeable difference, leaving a congested head even more confused.

So what’s the best way to tell the difference between the flu and a common cold?

Penny Caudill, head of the Monroe County Health Department, suggests consulting the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help you decide which you’re suffering from via a self-evaluation flu quiz.

“It asks you questions, not meant to take the place of the doctor but to give you some idea,” Caudill said. “It asks you about your symptoms. It’s an excellent tool.”

Sample questions include:

Have you had a fever or felt feverish? Do you have a cough and/or a sore throat?

INstride also turned to the CDC for other tips, most importantly, prevention to help keep you flu-free and healthy this season.

Cold vs. Flu

•Flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.

•Flu and the common cold have similar symptoms, such as fever and sore throat.

•Your doctor can give you a flu test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether you have the flu.

•In general, the flu is worse than the common cold.

•Symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense with the flu.

•Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.

•Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

•While the seasonal flu doesn’t usually lead to these more serious health concerns, they are more frequent among flu patients.

Seasonal Flu Prevention and Treatment

•Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. CDC recommends two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 flu vaccine, and the CDC is encouraging people get both vaccinations.

•Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues or coughing/sneezing into your hands.

•Cover coughs and sneezes.

•Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.

•Get plenty of rest.

•Get medical attention right away if you:

•Have difficulty breathing or chest pain

•Have purple or blue discoloration of your lips

•Are vomiting and unable to keep liquids down, or show signs of dehydration, such as feeling dizzy when standing or unable to urinate.

If you’re sick

•CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever (100°F) is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol. Stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events and public gatherings.

•Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people age 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, young children and infants.

How to Feel Better

Rest, over-the-counter medicines and other self-care methods may help you or your child feel better. For more information about symptomatic relief, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Use over-the-counter products as directed.

Flu symptoms

SEASONAL FLU

All types of flu can cause:

•Fever

•Coughing and/or sore throat

•Runny or stuffy nose

•Headaches and/or body aches

•Chills

•Fatigue

•Tiredness (can be extreme)

•Muscle aches

H1N1

Same as seasonal flu, but

symptoms may be more severe.

•Fever

•Coughing and/or sore throat

•Runny or stuffy nose

•Headaches and/or body aches

•Chills

•Fatigue

In addition to the above symptoms, a number of H1N1 (swine) flu cases reported:

•Vomiting

•Diarrhea

COMMON COLD

Cold symptoms in general are less severe than flu:

•Sneezing

•Stuffy or runny nose

•Sore throat

•Coughing

•Watery eyes

•Mild headache

•Mild body aches

SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION