Difference Between Cold and Flu

Cold vs Flu

Both the flu and the common cold are respiratory illnesses but caused by different pathogens. These two types of illnesses have symptoms that are similar to each other. Therefore it may be difficult to differentiate between them.

The flu illness is worse than the common cold with the symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, headache, congestion and cough.

The common cold is milder than the flu with the symptoms of sore throat, runny or stuffy nose. Fever is uncommon in adults, but children  may develop fever with cold. With the cold, patients do not get serious health complications such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Most of the times, the common cold symptoms can make people feel sick for a few days, but flu symptoms can make people quite ill for few days to weeks. The flu can also result in serious health problems including pneumonia and hospitalizations.

Cold symptoms can last for about a week and first three days when you have cold symptoms you are contagious. When cold symptoms do not improve after a week, it may be a bacterial infection, therefore antibiotics are necessary.

Both cold and flu viruses are transmitted through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Proper hand washing is needed in order to prevent transmission.

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