Flu and Fever are two types of infections and not diseases. Where Flu is a viral infection and Fever is one of the aspects of symptoms of Flu.
Flu vs Fever
The difference between Flu and Fever is that Flu is a respiratory infection and it attacks the breathing process of an individual. On the other hand, Fever is the rise of the normal temperature of a body, that is caused by the infection of an individual’s body. Also, fever is one of the symptoms of Flu. Both Flu and Fever are two contagious infections, but flu is a more serious infection and can spread quickly than fever. Viral fever is more contagious than normal fever.
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The main cause of Flu is the Influenza virus. It is a dangerous and contagious virus that can cause severe infection in an individual’s body.
The normal fever can be cured easily with the help of some medications. If the body cannot cope up with the infection then fever can also be deadly.
It depends upon the person’s immunity capability.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Flu | Fever |
---|---|---|
Definition | Flu is an infection that commonly weakens the respiratory system like the nose, throat, and lungs in an individual’s body. | Fever refers to the increase in body temperature. |
Types | Flu is of two types and they are respiratory flu and stomach flu. | Fever can be divided into various types depending upon its symptoms, and they are intermittent fever, sudden high fever, continuous fever, remittent fever, and Rheumatic fever. |
Specialist Department | The specialist department that treats Flu is Primary Care Physician, Pediatrician, Infectious Disease Specialist, and Emergency care physician. | Fever can be treated by any specialist department, but often medicine specialists are most preferable. |
Causes | The Flu or Influenza virus may cause because of the inhale of the germs as the droplets in the air, or by coming in contact with the person infected with Flu, etc. | The causes of fever might include factors such as infection, cancer, heat exhaustion, side effects of some specific medications, etc. |
Symptoms | Flu is associated with the symptoms such as fever, aching muscles, headaches, shortness of breath, tiredness or weakness, eye pain, etc. | The Fever is associated with symptoms such as a gradual increase in body temperature, shivering, body aches, and headaches, sweating, etc. |
Ways of spreading | Flu can spread by someone’s coughing or sneezing, some infected objects, by the touch of skin, saliva, etc. | Viral fever can spread through the infected air if the other person is near. |
Treatments | The Flu treatment includes various medications to calm the virus, self-care, etc. | The Fever includes treatments such as proper self-care, medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. |
Complications and Side-Effects | Flu can cause complications such as asthma, heart disease, ear infection, bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, etc. | The Fever can cause complications such as seizures, dehydration, cerebral edema, electrolyte disturbance, etc. |
What is Flu?
Flu is a contagious infection that is caused by the Influenza virus, that is why Flu is also known as Influenza.
It requires immediate and good care as it can cause some severe kinds of complications or even the infected person can die if his/her immune system can not fight back.
Its complications include adverse effects such as asthma, heart disease, ear infection, bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, etc.
What is Fever?
Fever is simply the rise of the normal body temperature of an individual. The normal temperature is always between 98.6 to 99.
The Fever is associated with symptoms such as a gradual increase in body temperature, shivering, body aches, and headaches, sweating, etc.
Generally, Fever only requires self-care and some specific medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, etc.
Main Differences Between Flu and Fever
- The Flu treatment includes various medications to calm the virus, self-care, etc.
- Flu can cause complications such as asthma, heart disease, ear infection, bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, etc.
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.