Is It a Cold, Flu or Swine Flu?

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Is it a cold? The regular flu? Or is it swine flu?

It's the question that many around the country are wondering as a White House report states that the swine flu season could infect up to 50 percent of Americans and lead to as many as 1.8 million hospitalizations and 30,000 to 90,000 deaths.

According to WebMD , colds usually begin with a sore throat that goes away after a day or two, and then nasal symptoms and a cough follow. Slight fevers are also possible. Flu symptoms are usually more severe and come on quickly -- people usually have a high fever, muscle aches, headache, congestion and cough. Swine flu in particular can include vomiting and diarrhea .

It's likely easier to distinguish between cold and the flu. But how do you know if you have the flu or swine flu? If you have the symptoms of flu, there's a good chance you have swine flu. "[The swine flu] seems to spread more easily than a cold virus or seasonal flu ... most likely because so few people have been exposed to it in the past," swine flu expert Richard Wenzel told US News and World Report .

But experts say it's not a cause for alarm. The CDC says if you have a fever , you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities.

There are antiviral drugs that your doctor can prescribe for you to lessen the swine flu symptoms and prevent serious complications. But these are only being prescribed to people who are very sick, such as those who need to be hospitalized or those who suffer flu complications. Most people, however, will likely be protected if they choose to get the swine flu vaccine, which will become available in early October .

The CDC says that if you experience the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough