The Difference Between the Cold and Flu

Your nose is stuffy, your throat is scratchy, and your head is pounding. Is it a cold or the seasonal flu? Symptoms can overlap, so unless your doctor runs a rapid flu test — a quick check done with a cotton swab from the back of your nose or throat — it’s hard to know for sure.
Here are some basic guidelines for telling the difference between cold and flu symptoms.
How to spot the difference
Viruses cause colds and the flu. Both are respiratory infections. The simplest way to tell the difference is by looking at your symptoms.
If you have a cold, you’ll probably have symptoms like these:
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• sneezing
• cough
• headache or body aches
• mild tiredness
Flu symptoms can include:
• dry, hacking cough
• moderate to high fever, although not everyone with the flu will run a fever
•sore throat
• shaking chills
• severe muscle or body aches
• headache
• stuffy and runny nose
• severe fatigue that may last up to two weeks
• nausea and vomiting, as well as diarrhea (most common in children)
Colds come on gradually over a few days and are often milder than the flu. They usually get better in 7 to 10 days, although symptoms can last for up to 2 weeks.
Flu symptoms come on quickly and can be severe. They usually last 1 to 2 weeks.
Use your symptoms as a guide to figure out which condition you have. If you think you might have the flu, see your doctor to get tested within the first 48 hours of showing symptoms.
What is the common cold?
The common cold is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. According to the American Lung Association, more than 200 different viruses can cause the common cold. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the rhinovirus is most often the one that makes people sneeze and sniffle. It’s highly contagious.
Though you can catch a cold at any time of year, colds are more common during the winter months. This is because most cold-causing viruses thrive in low humidity.
Colds spread when someone who’s sick sneezes or coughs, sending virus-filled droplets flying through the air.
You can get sick if you touch a surface (such as a countertop or doorknob) that has recently been handled by an infected person and then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. You’re most contagious in the first two to four days after you’re exposed to the cold virus.
What is the seasonal flu?
Influenza — or the flu, as it’s better known — is another upper respiratory illness. Unlike a cold, which can hit at any time of year, the flu is generally seasonal. Flu season usually runs from fall to spring, peaking during the winter months.
During flu season, you can catch the flu in the same way you’d pick up a cold: By coming into contact with droplets spread by an infected person. You’re contagious starting one day before you get sick and up to 5 to 7 days after you show symptoms.
The seasonal flu is caused by the influenza A, B, and C viruses, with influenza A and B being the most common types. Active strains of influenza virus vary from year to year. That’s why a new flu vaccine is developed each year.
Unlike the common cold, the flu can develop into a more serious condition, such as pneumonia. This is especially true for:
• young children
• older adults
• pregnant women
• people with health conditions that weaken their immune system, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes
When to call a doctor
If you’re at risk of complications from the flu, call your doctor when you first have symptoms. People at risk of serious complications include:
• people over the age of 65
• pregnant women
• women who are two weeks postpartum
• children under age of 2
• children under age 18 taking aspirin
• those with weakened immune systems due to HIV, steroid treatment, or chemotherapy
• people who are extremely obese
• people with chronic lung or heart conditions
• people with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, anemia, or kidney disease
• people living in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
Contact your doctor right away if your symptoms do not improve or if they become severe. See your doctor if you have signs of pneumonia, including:
• trouble breathing
• severe sore throat
• cough that produces green mucus
• high, persistent fever
• chest pain
Staying healthy
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. Most doctors recommend getting the flu vaccine in October or at the very start of flu season. However, you can still get the vaccine in late fall or winter. The flu vaccine can help protect you from getting the flu and can make the illness less severe if you do catch the flu. To avoid picking up the flu virus, wash your hands often with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth. Try to stay away from anyone who has the flu or flu-like symptoms. It’s important to adopt healthy habits to keep cold and flu germs at bay. You should always make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise, and manage your stress during cold and flu season and beyond.