Medically Reviewed. The common cold and the flu are both contagious, but cold symptoms tend to be milder and improve within a week to 10 days, according to Mayo Clinic. While most people who get the flu recover in less than two weeks, the symptoms are more severe, and serious complications, such as pneumonia , bronchitis , and sinus or ear infections, can develop, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.
Most people who get the flu recover in less than two weeks, but complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus or ear infections can develop. Can antibiotics help treat a cold or the flu?
Since colds and flu are caused by viruses, rather than bacteria, antibiotics are not an effective treatment option. How long does it take for cold symptoms to develop? Common cold symptoms typically develop about one to three days after exposure to cold-causing viruses.
Is there a cure or vaccine for the common cold? There is no cure for a common cold, but over-the-counter medications may ease symptoms. There is no vaccine, but good hygiene can reduce your risk of getting a cold. What symptoms do cold and flu have in common?
Symptoms that the common cold and flu share may include body aches, headache, sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, sneezing, and fever. Symptoms that the common cold and flu share may include: body aches headache sore throat cough nasal congestion sneezing Unlike a cold, the flu is usually accompanied by fever and influenza symptoms tend to come on more suddenly.
Chills are common with the flu but not with a cold, per the CDC. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some warning signs to look for include high fever, shortness of breath , and symptoms that last more than 10 days, continue to worsen, or get better initially but then get worse again.
Shouting, singing, or even simply talking can also release contaminated droplets into the air, which can then be inhaled, transmitting the virus, according to Houston Methodist. Children younger than 5 and adults over 65 are at higher risk for developing complications from the flu, according to the CDC. Seasonal flu activity typically occurs between October and May flu season , although flu viruses are around all year, per the CDC. Similarly, most people develop colds in the winter and spring, but they can occur anytime, notes the CDC.
Viruses can more easily infiltrate the body if you have a weakened immune system. Chronic smoking makes your respiratory system more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses and complications. The American Lung Association reports that cold symptoms tend to be more severe in smokers.
Smokers also have a higher risk for severe illness from a flu infection, per the CDC. There are four types of influenza viruses: A and B, which are most commonly associated with seasonal flu activity and epidemics; C, which is relatively rare and causes mild respiratory illness; and D, which primarily affects cattle, according to the CDC. There are many subtypes of influenza A viruses, based on two proteins — hemagglutinin H and neuraminidase N — found on the surface of the viruses.
The influenza pandemic of was an H1N1 virus of avian origin. H3N2 mutates more rapidly than other strains, which can make it particularly resistant to the flu vaccine. Less common than influenza A, these viruses cause similar symptoms and can lead to seasonal outbreaks. Influenza B is not categorized by subtypes, but there are two strains of the virus: Yamagata and Victoria. Like influenza A and B, these viruses are found in humans.
But influenza C viruses are milder and are not thought to cause epidemics. Seasonal flu vaccines, which contain strains of influenza A and B, do not protect against influenza C viruses. This strain of influenza is not known to cause illness in humans.
A relatively new strain, it primarily affects cattle, though a report published in October in Current Opinion in Virology notes that it could eventually pose more of a threat to humans. To diagnose the flu, doctors sometimes use a rapid influenza diagnostic test, notes the CDC. Swab samples from the nose or back of the throat are tested for influenza viral antigens substances that cause your immune system to form antibodies.
Test results are usually ready in less than 15 minutes, but are not always accurate. There are other, more reliable flu tests that can be performed only in hospitals or specialized laboratories. People with the flu are most contagious during the first three to four days after their illness starts, but some adults may be able to spread infection one day before their symptoms start and up to seven days after, notes the CDC. How do you know the difference? Coronavirus, or COVID, is a new strain of coronavirus not previously seen in humans that is spreading quickly worldwide.
Four other strains of coronavirus are actually very common and usually only cause mild symptoms like the common cold. For example, older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions — like heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, for example — seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID illness.
Click HERE for more detailed information on coronavirus. While you may feel miserable when you have a cold, the symptoms are generally mild compared to more aggressive viruses like the flu. A cold can cause any or all of these symptoms:. Most over-the-counter medications have, at best, moderate effects on cold symptoms.
A typical cold will last on average 7 to 10 days. Flu is caused by influenza viruses only, whereas the common cold can be caused by a number of different viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses. Because flu and the common cold have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly. Colds are usually milder than flu.
People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have serious associated complications. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn How this information was developed. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.
All rights reserved. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. British Columbia Specific Information Influenza, also called the flu, is an infection of the upper airway caused by an influenza virus.
Top of the page. Topic Overview Influenza flu and the common cold are both types of upper respiratory infections URIs. Flu symptoms Flu symptoms are usually much worse than a cold.
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