I’m no doctor, but everyone knows the flu is way worse than a cold! Once you catch it, you can’t even move from bed. Meanwhile, a cold is just something you can sniffle through and still go to work or school.

Definition and Overview:

The common cold and influenza (flu) are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have very serious associated complications.

Symptoms:

Cold symptoms usually include a runny or stuffy nose and a sore throat. A cold typically develops slowly and can include a cough and sneezing. In contrast, flu symptoms are generally more severe and begin more abruptly. The symptoms of the flu can include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, a cough, sore throat, and a runny or stuffy nose.

Causes:

Colds are caused by numerous different viruses, whereas the flu is caused only by influenza viruses. Transmission for both the cold and flu can occur through direct contact, or through the air by coughing or sneezing.

Prevention and Treatment:

To prevent flu, annual flu vaccines are recommended. Good hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes, can help reduce the spread of both colds and flu. Treatment involves relieving symptoms and may include rest, fluid intake, and over-the-counter medications. For the flu, antiviral medications might be prescribed to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.

I’ve always been interested in how to recognize illnesses early and understand them better, so here’s the scoop based on what I’ve picked up about colds and flu. With colds, you’re looking at more mild symptoms — stuffy nose, little bit of a cough, not feeling great but it’s nothing extreme. Flu hits harder. You’ll probably be dealing with high fevers, serious fatigue, and more intense body aches. If someone’s wondering whether it’s the flu, it’s the high fever and severe symptoms that are the giveaways.

Yo, I had the flu last winter and let me tell you, it’s no joke. I was totally knocked out, fever was so high I could barely get out of bed. The cold, on the other hand, I’ve had bunches of times. Just a runny nose, maybe a cough, and I’m good with just some tissues and over-the-counter meds. Flu is way worse, you might need to see a doctor for that one.