Common cold or pneumonia: Can you tell the difference?

While colds and pneumonia can strike at any time of the year, they’re more common in the winter months when people spend more indoors making it easy for the 200 viruses that cause colds to spread.

An estimated 1 billion Americans will contract at least one cold this year. The majority of them will recover in a week or less. Many of the viruses that cause colds can also cause viral pneumonia that sends more than a million people to the hospital each year and leads to more than 50,000 deaths.

Which is why it’s important to be able to recognize differences between the symptoms of a common cold and pneumonia so that you can seek the proper care and treatment as needed.

Here’s how they compare and when to see a doctor

Common Cold

Symptoms: Sore throat, Runny or stuffy nose, Sneezing, Cough. Loss of appetite, Headache. May cause low fever (100 to 102°F) in young children but not adults

Duration: Up to a week

Treatment: Stay hydrated, Get plenty of rest, Take over-the counter medications including decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers as needed. For children 6 years old and younger, speak to your doctor before giving pain reliever. Gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat. Inhale warm steam from a hot shower or over a heated pot of water (not boiling) to relieve congestion. Use a humidifier

When to see a doctor: The cold persists for more than two weeks. Symptoms worsen or include a high fever, sinus pain, swollen glands, or a cough that produces mucus. You experience chest pain. Have a fever above 100°F for more than two days. You have trouble breathing

Pneumonia

Symptoms:Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus, Fever. Sweating and shaking chills, Shallow breathing and/or shortness of breath. A stabbing pain in the chest that’s aggravated when you cough or attempt to breathe deeply, Fatigue, Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting, especially in young children. Confusion or changes in mental awareness in adults over 65

Duration: Up to three months

TreatmentStay hydrated, Get plenty of rest, Avoid second-hand smoke and/or quit smoking, Use a humidifier. Inhale warm steam from a hot shower or over a heated pot of water (not boiling) to relieve congestion and loose mucus. Cough as needed to loosen and clear mucus from your airways. Take over-the counter medications including decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers as needed.  

When to see a doctor* You have difficulty breathing. Your cough gets worse. You develop a bluish color in your lips and fingertips. You have a persistent fever of 100.8°F or higher by mouth over several days

*NOTE: Certain people are much more likely to develop life-threatening pneumonia. These include individuals who:are older than 65, are younger than 5 years, have a weakened immune system have an underlying condition including diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic liver disease, and chronic lung disease, smoke or drink excessively.

While it’s virtually impossible to avoid viruses that cause the common cold, washing your hands with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) can help prevent you from catching a cold. Hand washing/sanitizing is especially important after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, or spending time with someone who is sick.

To help reduce your risk of contracting pneumonia, consider getting the flu and pneumococcal vaccines, which offer protection from viruses and bacteria known to cause pneumonia.  

If you’re uncertain what vaccines to get, speak to your healthcare provider.

Dr. Marie George, MD is an Infectious Disease Specialist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT and a member of the Travel Clinic team at the hospital.