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Differences Between Cold & Flu Symptoms

The common cold and the flu are caused by different viruses. These illnesses have similar symptoms, and it can be hard to differentiate between the two. However, the symptoms of the flu are generally more intense and extreme. Anyone who thinks they may have the flu can visit their physician for special testing that will confirm whether they are suffering from the flu or the common cold. Receiving a flu diagnosis early and starting medication such as Tamiflu can help reduce the symptoms and duration of the flu. Here are the differences between the common cold and the flu:

  1. Fever

    • The common cold generally will not produce a fever. If it does produce a fever, it generally comes on gradually, is mild and/or is the result of an infection that develops in the sinuses or ears, particularly in children. The flu will cause a fever that will often come on suddenly and be very high. Most people will feel fine and then suddenly develop a fever and other flu symptoms all at once.

    Chills

    • People who have the common cold may feel a bit cold, but they generally don't have the chills. People who have the flu will have chills. They may feel that they can't get warm enough even if they are wearing layers and in bed with extra blankets on them. People with the flu may also have bouts of sweating as their fever fluctuates.

    Cough, Congestion and Headache

    • The common cold generally produces a productive, wet cough. The flu generally produces a cough that is hacking, unproductive and dry. A stuffy nose, store throat and sneezing are common symptoms of a cold, while headaches and chest discomfort are symptoms of the flu.

    Body Aches and Fatigue

    • A common cold can make a person feel rundown and possibly a bit achy. The flu will make a person terribly fatigued and at the point of exhaustion. They will also feel pain throughout the body. Even turning over in bed or walking to the bathroom can hurt. Influenza can infect the lungs and joints.

    Onset

    • Unlike the common cold, which can produce additional symptoms over time as the cold worsens, flu symptoms generally arrive within hours of each other. People with common colds will generally feel symptoms escalate over a few days or a week or more. Flu symptoms strike suddenly. A person may become bedridden in three to six hours after feeling their first few symptoms.

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