Cold and Flu // Student Health & Well-Being // University of Missouri

If you have any of the following, call 573-882-7481 for an appointment:

Fever over 101 degrees or remains over 100 degrees for two days
Productive cough
Breathing difficulty
Chest pain
Other severe symptoms

Flu Shots

Annual flu shots are available. Call 573-882-7481 to schedule an appointment to get yours or attend one of our on-campus clinics:

Your student health fee covers the cost of the annual flu shot. If you’re already at your appointment, ask your provider or nurse about getting the shot while you’re here.

Symptom Checker

You’re tired, have a stuffy nose and a sore throat. Use this guide to figure out if it’s a cold, the flu or something else.

Symptoms Onset
COVID-19 Symptoms range from mild to severe	Influenza	Cold	Seasonal Allergies
Gradual	Abrupt	Gradual	Varies

Symptoms
Symptom	COVID-19 Symptoms range from mild to severe	Influenza	Cold	Seasonal Allergies
Sources: World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Fever	Common	Common	Rare	No
Fatigue	Common	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
Cough	Common (usually dry)	Common (usually dry)	Common	Sometimes
Sneezing	Rarely	No	Common	Common
Aches and pains	Common	Common	Sometimes	No
Runny or stuffy nose	Common	Common	Common	Common
Sore throat	Usually	Sometimes	Common	Possible, esp. upon waking
Diarrhea	Sometimes	Sometimes	No	No
Nausea or vomiting	Sometimes	Rarely	No	No
Headaches	Sometimes	Common	Uncommon, mild	Sometimes
Shortness of breath	Common	Sometimes	Mild	Sometimes, esp. in asthma patients
Chills	Sometimes, incl. repeating shaking	Fairly common	Uncommon	Rare
Loss of appetite	Sometimes	Common	Sometimes	Rare
New loss of taste or smell	Sometimes (early, often without runny or stuffy nose)	Sometimes	Sometimes (especially with stuffy nose)	Sometimes
Itchy nose, eyes or roof of mouth	No	No	No	Common
Watery eyes	No	Uncommon	Common	Common

Cold & Flu Care Tips

For fever, sore throat and body aches

Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) but do not exceed 3,000 mg per day
Alternate with ibuprofen (such as Advil)
Take them around the clock, at the frequency indicated on the product directions — not just when symptoms reoccur

For cough

Use a cough syrup with the suppressant dextromethorphan (DM), which is usually combined with guaifenesin (a mucus thinner)
Take it at the frequency indicated on the product directions — not only when your cough worsens

Increase fluid intake

Fluids are important while you have a fever
Consume water, sports drinks and soup
Do not use sugar-free drinks for rehydration

Call us

Call 573-882-7481 for an appointment if:

Fever remains over 100 degrees for two days
Cough becomes productive
Loss of smell or taste
Breathing becomes difficult
You experience chest pain
Or other new severe symptoms

Stay home

Stay home from class and work to limit contact with others. Limiting contact with others will keep them from infecting others.

Practice prevention

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (or turn your head into your sleeve)
Put your used tissue in a waste basket
Wash your hands with soap and water, after you sneeze or cough
Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer to use when soap and water are not easily accessible
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because germs are spread this way
Do not share items such as drinks, food, cell phones, etc.

Avoid close contact with sick people

Viruses are spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Sometimes others may become infected by touching something with viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Symptoms of influenza

The most common symptoms are fever with respiratory symptoms including cough, sore throat and body aches. Headaches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may also occur.

Cold and Flu