Winter Flu vs. Air Pollution: How to Tell the Difference in Symptoms

• Distinguishing between winter flu and air pollution-induced symptoms is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.
• Flu typically presents with fever, sudden onset of symptoms, severe body aches, and fatigue, often resolving in 7-10 days.
• Pollution-related symptoms usually lack fever, emerge gradually, cause localized irritation (eyes, nose, throat), and can persist for weeks.
• Symptoms varying with location (worsening outdoors) and non-contagious nature are key indicators of pollution-induced illness.
• Dr. Kartik Thakkar highlights fever, body aches, and sudden onset as key differentiators between the two conditions.

Why It Matters: Differentiate winter flu from pollution-induced illness by checking for fever, sudden onset, body aches, and symptom duration.