From the Guidelines
The common cold and influenza (flu) are distinct respiratory illnesses with different severity, symptoms, and treatment approaches. The common cold typically causes milder symptoms, including runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, and mild fatigue, usually developing gradually over several days 1. In contrast, the flu often strikes suddenly with more severe symptoms, including high fever (100°F or higher), intense body aches, extreme fatigue, headaches, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea, particularly in children 1.
Key Differences
- Symptom onset: Cold symptoms develop gradually, while flu symptoms appear suddenly.
- Fever: High fever is more common in flu than in the common cold.
- Body aches: Intense body aches are more typical of flu.
- Duration: Cold symptoms typically last 7-10 days, while flu symptoms can last longer.
- Complications: Flu can lead to more serious complications like pneumonia, especially in high-risk individuals such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions 1.
Management and Treatment
- Common cold: Managed with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for discomfort, decongestants, and plenty of rest and fluids.
- Influenza: Antiviral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) may be prescribed if started within 48 hours of symptom onset, typically taken twice daily for five days.
Prevention
- Vaccination: The primary mode of prophylaxis against influenza, recommended for all persons 50 years of age, children 6 months to 59 months of age, women who will be pregnant during influenza season, and adults and children with chronic conditions 1.
From the Research
Difference between Cold and Flu
The common cold and influenza (flu) are two distinct respiratory illnesses with different causes, symptoms, and complications.
- The common cold is an acute illness of the upper respiratory tract caused by a virus, with symptoms such as headache, sore throat, nonproductive cough, sneezing, and nasal discharge 2.
- Influenza, on the other hand, is an acute viral respiratory disease that affects persons of all ages, with symptoms including fever, myalgia, malaise, anorexia, sore throat, nonproductive cough, sneezing, and nasal discharge 3, 4.
Symptoms and Complications
The symptoms of colds and flu can be similar, but the severity and duration of the illnesses differ.
- Colds are self-limited illnesses, typically lasting less than a week in adults and 10 to 14 days in children, with symptoms due to the host's response to the virus rather than to destruction of the nasal mucosa 2.
- Influenza, however, can lead to more severe complications, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and cardiac complications, especially in high-risk individuals like the elderly, young children, and people with comorbid illnesses 5, 3, 4.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment for colds and flu also differs.
- For colds, there is no curative treatment, and symptom relief is the primary goal, with over-the-counter analgesics like aspirin, paracetamol, and ibuprofen being safe and effective for treating pain and fever symptoms 6.
- Influenza, on the other hand, can be prevented through annual vaccination, and early antiviral treatment can reduce complications and severity of the illness 5, 3.