The common cold can be tricky to tell apart from Influenza or the flu. Both are respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses but share many symptoms.

Both the flu and the common cold can be very contagious. According to Mayo Clinic, cold symptoms are usually milder and improve within a week to 10 days. The flu can have much more severe symptoms, even though most recover in less than two weeks. Serious complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinus or ear infections can develop, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since viruses, rather than bacteria cause colds and the flu, antibiotics are not an effective treatment option.

Signs and Symptoms

The flu and colds affect the respiratory system, but flu symptoms are usually more severe.

There are more than 200 different viruses known to cause common cold symptoms. However, rhinovirus is the most common, accounting for 10 to 40 percent of colds. Typically it will invade the nose’s mucus, where it rapidly reproduces. This reproduction of the virus and your body’s immune reaction to it causes the feelings commonly associated with a cold.

The flu and cold may include the following symptoms: Body aches, sore throat, headache, cough, nasal congestion, and sneezing. Colds generally do not cause serious health problems.

Unlike a cold, the flu is usually accompanied by fever or feeling feverish/chills, and influenza symptoms tend to come on more suddenly. According to the CDC, chills are common with the flu but not with a cold. Influenza can also result in more severe health problems, such as pneumonia or bacterial infection.

A cold will develop gradually. It usually makes you lousy but should not interfere with daily activities. While most colds do not require a doctor visit, they can become something more serious.

Causes and Risk Factors

Influenza viruses cause the flu, but many distinct viruses (most commonly rhinoviruses) can cause a cold.

Cold Symptoms usually develop about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Viruses can be spread through personal contact, the air, and respiratory secretions. Some examples include touching a contaminated object, a handshake, and exposure to an infected person’s sneeze or cough. 

Types of Flu

Three types of flu viruses affect people. They are known as influenza viruses A, B, and C. Type A and B cause the annual influenza outbreaks that have us sniffling, aching, coughing, and running high fevers. Type C flu symptoms are mild.

Duration

A cold or flu’s duration is dependent on two main factors. These are the type of viruses and how well your immune system can fight off infection. That is why older adults, young children, and people with chronic illnesses are more susceptible to viral infections and complications.

A cold’s symptoms usually subside within 7 to 10 days, while the flu typically lasts 3 to 7 days, with severe symptoms subsiding within the first few days. Some symptoms, like fatigue and cough, can linger for weeks.

The CDC notes that the flu is most contagious during the first three to four days after the illness begins, but some adults may be able to spread the infection one day before their symptoms start and up to seven days after.

Treatment and Medication Options

The flu and the common cold do not have a cure. However, over-the-counter options can ease symptoms like throat pain, cough, congestion, and body or headaches.

Pain relievers and cold medicines have some side effects and even pose health risks, especially for people with preexisting conditions like high blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic says that children and teenagers with flu symptoms should never take aspirin for fever or pain. This is because it has been linked to a potentially life-threatening condition known as Reye’s syndrome.

Prescriptions can be used to treat the flu, especially in people at higher risk for complications, like those with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

Protect Yourself

Follow these best practices to stay healthy during the cold and flu season:

• Practice good hand-washing hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If you cannot use soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Promptly dispose of used tissues.
• Stay home when sick, especially when you have a fever.
• Avoid being around people who are sick whenever possible.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Eat well, exercise, and get enough rest.
• Consider taking a multivitamin and possibly vitamin D supplements to support your immune system.
• Visit with your healthcare provider about getting a flu shot.

The best way to combat winter illnesses is to prevent them. The old proverb, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” always rings true. It is 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.

Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Community Vitality and Health Educator

Sources:

• www.cdc.gov
• www.everydayhealth.com
• www.mayoclinic.org
• www.lung.org