Cold and Flu Symptoms
Is It a Cold or is it the Flu?
Below is a list of basic symptoms for both colds and flu’s. The ones that distinguish the flu from a cold are highlighted in bold.
| Cold | Flu |
| Headache | Headache |
| Stuffy or runny nose | Body aches |
| Sneezing | Chills |
| Mild Fever | Fever |
| Coughing | Coughing |
| Sore throat | Severe sore throat |
| Congestion | Congestion |
| Fatigue | |
| Burning eyes |
Cold Symptoms
There are over 200 viruses that can invade the upper respiratory system and cause colds, so specific symptoms can vary. Symptoms generally appear about one to three days after exposure to the virus.
Symptoms of a cold generally lasts one week, although it can last significantly longer in people who are either very young or old or otherwise have suppressed immune systems.
Flu Symptoms
Flu symptoms, like cold symptoms, usually develop a couple days after you are infected with the virus. Especially during the initial day or so, an infection with a flu virus can look almost identical to an infection with a cold virus. The symptoms highlighted in yellow show the ones that typically differentiate a flu from a cold. You should be careful about flus though. Why? Because they can develop into more serious conditions—like pneumonia or bronchitis, even heart disease. An otherwise healthy person can expect to be in bed with the flu for three to five days. Many people, however, experience lesser symptoms (fatigue, achiness) for weeks afterwards.
The Flu is Dangerous; How can you Identify It?
So, what gives away the flu? Like a cold, the first signals that the flu is paying a visit to your body is a headache, fatigue, and body aches: a general “run down” feeling. What really gives the flu away is what happens directly after the first 24 hours.
The first flu symptoms are quickly (usually within twenty-four hours) followed by the more severe repercussions of the flu: fever, chills, and aches (both head and body).
An adult with a fever higher than 101 is most likely dealing with the flu, not a cold. High fever accompanied with chills and aches are very seldom the symptoms of the common cold. They are more likely signs of infection with the flu.
A cold might have you feeling a bit “run down,” but the flu will have you feeling more “run over.” People with colds usually experience only moderate, if any, decreases in energy level. They often can go about their normal business with a cold, which is not as often possible with the flu.
To learn about the treatments that are available for a cold of flu, continue on to the next section.
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