Is there a difference between the Flu and the common cold?
After being asked this question today, I thought the awnser was obvious. The Flue was a stomach virus and the common cold was more of a respiratory thing. But after googling and reading a few medical dictionary definitions it leads me to the same question. Are they technically the same?
Posted by RLDaily
No, the cold and flu, also called influenza, are two different things. Even though they are both caused by a virus, the cold is caused by a rhinovirus, where as the flu is caused by the influenza virus. In addition, the symptoms of influenza are generally worse than a cold, and longer-lasting. With the flu, you typically run a mid or high grade fever. With a cold, the fever is mild, if present at all. With a cold, you have nose issues and coughing. With the flu, you have severe body aches, chills, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, sleepiness - I had this so badly last year that I was in bed for about 5 days! At least with a cold you can function to a degree.
Neither of the two are related to the stomach virus, aka gastroenteritis. The 'stomach flu' technically doesn't exist. This is just a term that never really went away. It's a stomach virus or bug. The symptoms for gastroenteritis are sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, body aches, fever and can last anywhere from 24 hours to a week, depending on the strain.
No matter what the illness is, because you have a fever and are losing more bodily fluids than unusual, it's important to drink lots of fluids and rest when you are sick. This is vital so you don't get dehydration and have to go to the hospital. Children, elders, and those with immune issues are most at risk for dehydration when sick, and need to be kept under supervision to prevent this.
Hope this clear things up!
Posted by LINDA R
No. They are both viruses that effect the respiratory system, but flu is more serious, and can cause a high fever and severe body aches. There is actually no such thing as "stomach flu". The virus that causes gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, etc) is not flu, but a different virus.
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