What is the Difference Between Cold and Influenza?

Influenza (flu) and the common cold are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. While they share similar symptoms, there are some differences in their characteristics:

• Causative agents: Flu is caused by influenza viruses only, whereas the common cold can be caused by various viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses.
• Symptom intensity: Flu symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly than cold symptoms. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu.
• Complications: Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, but flu can have serious associated complications, such as pneumonia and hospitalizations.

Some common symptoms of both flu and cold include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. However, the flu usually comes on suddenly and lasts longer, with symptoms being the worst for the first 3 or 4 days. In contrast, cold symptoms usually come on over the course of a couple of days and last 1 to 2 weeks.

It can be difficult to differentiate between flu and cold symptoms, as they share many similarities. Special tests can be used to determine if a person is sick with flu.

Comparative Table: Cold vs Influenza

The common cold and influenza (flu) are both contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. They share similar symptoms, but there are key differences in their characteristics. Here is a table comparing the differences between cold and flu symptoms:

In general, cold symptoms are milder and develop gradually, while flu symptoms are more severe and begin abruptly. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose, whereas flu symptoms often include fever, body aches, and fatigue.