The 10 differences between cold and flu

Because they have several symptoms in common, we often mistake the flu for a cold. But the differences between cold and flu are several and very obvious. Above all we could say that the flu is a stronger infection than the cold and its duration is shorter, but this would only be a way of summarizing it.

Common respiratory symptoms are coughs, sneezes, and colds, and both colds and flu are infections caused by viruses. However, it is more the differences than the similarities that set them apart.

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10 differences between flu and cold

The significant differences between cold and flu are several. Still, it is important to note that the cold does not cause complications on its own. In contrast, the flu can be very life-threatening for the elderly, infants, or people with low immunity.

Undoubtedly, knowing the characteristics of the flu and the cold will help us to recognize warning signs. In this way we can treat one or another virus properly and under medical supervision.

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1. Types of Viruses

The first big difference between colds and flu are the viruses that cause them. Those that cause colds include rhinovirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, and parainfluenza. The viruses that cause colds rarely lead to serious complications.

Instead, the virus that causes the flu belongs to the Influenza virus family. Likewise, there are several subtypes of influenza capable of causing more serious symptoms and ending in complications.

2. Appearance of symptoms

The time it takes for symptoms to appear is another difference between flu and cold. While in the common cold the signs appear between 24 and 72 hours, in the flu they appear suddenly.

It is clear then that they share similar symptoms, but even among these symptoms, there are some differences that can help us identify a flu from a cold. .

3. Fever, the most obvious symptom.

A person with the flu has a fever, as opposed to a person with a cold. It may be that in some exceptional cases there is fever in adults with a cold, however it would be just a harmless low-grade fever. On the other hand, young children under 6 years of age can present it, although it also manifests mildly.

On the other hand, when a person has the flu, they generally have a temperature rise of up to 38 °, and in children it can reach 40 °. Fever is a clear difference between the flu and a cold.

4. Headache and general malaise

The common thing is that with the flu there is an intense headache and a general malaise throughout the body. Although colds can also present these symptoms, the intensity is less and does not impede daily activities.

This is where we verify that this is one of the symptoms in which flu and cold are similar. But the intensity and how annoying they are, can be an indication of whether it is a symptom of the flu or a cold.

5. Cold and sneezing

When there is a cold there is a cold and sneezing. We know that with the flu, this is a symptom that may not exist.

This symptom is confusing and cannot be a clear parameter to determine if there is a cold or flu, as it may or may not exist in the case of the flu. Therefore, here the difference between one and the other is unclear.

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6. Throat pain

A sore throat is one of the first symptoms to appear with a cold. In the case of a cold, a cough may not appear.

To distinguish between flu and cold, you must observe the type of cough since in the case of flu, sometimes it does not appear, or there may be a cough with phlegm. On the other hand, the cold almost always presents a dry cough.

7. Weakness

Another clear symptom of the flu is excessive weakness. Meanwhile the flu can present it but it will be mild to moderate and unlike the flu, it will last a short time.

You can see that if a person feels unusually weak, they could be having flu symptoms and require medical attention.

8. Complications

The most worrying thing about the flu are its possible complications. A very important fact that we have to know is that a cold, being a common virus, may not require major medical attention. Even so, it could present complications such as otitis or sinusitis, but these infections could be treated and stopped without passing to the elderly.

On the contrary, in the case of the flu the complications can be greater. They can range from otitis to pneumonia, either caused by the influenza virus itself or by opportunistic bacteria.

This occurs because the body is weakened, and these bacteria take advantage of it to attack the lungs. Although it is a disease with a very low mortality rate, its ease of transmission causes a large number of infected people per year.

9. Signs of severity

A cold will rarely present life-threatening warning signs. It is change, a flu can manifest symptoms that indicate that it could be presenting a complication.

Knowing these serious symptoms is important to prevent a tragedy, and help those who present them or request emergency care. Shortness of breath, chest pain, drop in blood pressure, persistent vomiting and some cases disorientation or changes in consciousness are signs of severity that require intervention immediate.

10. Duration of the disease and period of contagion

The flu can last less than a cold, it is more intense. A cold lasts between 3 to 7 days, although some people take up to 14 days to get rid of it. In the case of the flu, the duration is 2 to 5 days, but the cough and fatigue take weeks to disappear.

Regarding the period of contagion of the flu, it begins 12 hours after having been in contact with the virus. In the case of a cold, it can take up to 24 hours.

The contagion is the same in flu and cold. It occurs through droplets of saliva expelled when speaking, coughing or sneezing, when touching objects contaminated by the virus and then touching the nose, mouth or eyes.

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Bibliographic references

• Eccles, R. (2005). Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Lancet Infect Dis, 5 (11), 718–725.

• Hay, A., Gregory, V., Douglas, A. and Lin Y. (2001). The evolution of human influenza viruses. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 356 (1416), 861–870.

• Hilleman, M. (2002). Realities and enigmas of human viral influenza: pathogenesis, epidemiology and control. Vaccine, 20, 25–26, 3068–3087.