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Farmers Almanac
The 2012 Farmers Almanac
Farmers' Almanac

Name that Virus!

by Farmers' Almanac Staff | Monday, November 16th, 2009 | From: Healthy Living

Name that Virus!

You wake up one morning and just don’t feel like yourself; you’re tired, achy, feverish … Is it swine flu? Is it seasonal flu? Is it just a cold? How can you tell? This handy chart will help you understand the differences between a few common illnesses.

Symptom Cold Seasonal Flu
 H1N1
Fever Rare Up to 102° common 101° or higher very common
Chest Congestion Mild to moderate Moderate Severe
Cough Productive cough common Dry cough common Dry cough common
Nasal Congestion Common Common Common
Sneezing Common Common Rare
Sore Throat Common Common Rare
Chills Rare Common Common
Fatigue Mild Moderate Moderate
Body Aches Mild Moderate Severe
Nausea/Diarrhea/Vomiting Rare Common Common
Headache Uncommon Common Common
Onset Slow – symptoms develop over a few days Slow – symptoms develop over a few days Rapid – Symptoms develop within a few hours

Information courtesy of The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about the flu, visit www.flu.gov.

Learn a few surefire ways to stay healthy this year.

If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.

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