What is the difference between a cold and flu?
Posted by cherish
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
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.
How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?
Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.
What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?
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.
Posted by ria
basically here are a few things to check out
cold flu
headache sometimes almost always
fever rare prominent
fatigue mild severe
congestion prominent sometimes
sneezes prominent sometimes
cough sometimes almost always
stomach problems very rare sometimes
hope this little chart helped! for more info check out webmd.com
Posted by minidoc
They are both caused by viruses. Flu or more properly influenza is caused by differing strains and typically associated with high fevers and muscle aches. Colds are typically cause by rhinoviruses, they can have different symptoms including runny nose or sore throat, cough but they can also have fever, usually lower grade.
Posted by nursesr4evr
Symptoms of a cold are sinus problems including coughing sneezing and runny nose, lasting around 3 days or so. Flu symptoms are chills and fever, and muscles aches lasting sometimes a month or more
Posted by Chetan S
Cold
The common cold, is a mild viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system (nose and throat). Symptoms include sneezing, sniffling, runny nose, nasal congestion; scratchy, sore, or phlegmy throat; coughing; headache; and tiredness.
Flu
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In people, common symptoms are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.
Add your own answer in the comments! Cold and Flu Basics - Cold and Flu Center - Gocoldflu.info
How to recognize the symptoms of cold and flu, which treatments work best, and advice on staying healthy during cold and flu season
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