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Flu Vs. Enterovirus: What Are The Differences?

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Your child wakes up with a fever, cough and generally feels awful.

Could it be the more unusual enterovirus that has been in the news recently, or the seasonal flu virus?

We are about to enter the flu season, so CBS 2 asked Dr. Stan Shulman, chief of infectious disease at Lurie Children's Hospital, whether parents can look for differences in symptoms

"There's a lot of overlap in the symptoms we see," Shulman said. "It's not so easy to distinguish every respiratory illness from which virus it is."

Both the flu and enterovirus come with fever, runny nose and a cough.

The differences, Shulman said, is that the enterovirus has "a predilection to cause a lot of respiratory symptoms, particularly wheezing."

With the flu, you are more likely to have severe muscle aches.

Another difference, Shulman said, is that there is a vaccine for the flu, but not for enterovirus.

If a child has a high grade fever, 102, 103 or higher, and the illness is persisting or they look sicker in any other way, see the doctor.

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