How to Decode Coughs & Sneezes

Eau Claire City-County Health Department |

It’s that time of the year when we see and hear more people coughing and sneezing. Parents may wonder what illness has made their child feel unwell. The common cold, influenza, and whooping cough (pertussis) share some symptoms, but influenza and whooping cough can be more serious illnesses than the common cold. Below is a chart outlining some of the differences between the three illnesses.