The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu.

People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations.

What is the Flu?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• Five to 20 percent of the population gets the flu;
  
• More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications;
  
• About 36,000 people die from flu, and;
  
• Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

Symptoms of Flu

Symptoms of flu include:

• Fever (usually high)
  
• Headache
  
• Extreme tiredness
  
• Dry cough
  
• Sore throat
  
• Runny or stuffy nose
  
• Muscle aches
  
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.

Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.

Prevention of the flu can be helped by a regular flu shot in the fall of each year.

What is a Cold?

Most people know that sneezing, scratchy throat and runny nose are usually the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. Although the common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting one to two weeks, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, 22 million school days are lost annually in the United States due to the common cold.

More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Some, such as the rhinoviruses, seldom produce serious illnesses. Others, such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, produce mild infections in adults but can precipitate severe lower respiratory infections in young children.

Rhinoviruses (from the Greek rhin, meaning "nose") cause an estimated 30 to 35 percent of all adult colds, and are most active in early fall, spring and summer. More than 110 distinct rhinovirus types have been identified. These agents grow best at temperatures of about 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside the human nose.

Symptoms of the common cold usually begin two to three days after infection and often include:

• Mucus buildup in your nose
  
• Difficulty breathing through your nose
  
• Swelling of your sinuses
  
• Sneezing
  
• Sore throat
  
• Cough
  
• Headache

There is no cure for the common cold, but you can get relief from your cold symptoms by:

• Resting in bed
  
• Drinking plenty of fluids
  
• Gargling with warm salt water or using throat sprays or lozenges for a scratchy or sore throat
  
• Using petroleum jelly for a raw nose
  
• Taking aspirin or acetaminophen, Tylenol, for example, for headache or fever

Back to top