What is Difference between Cold and Flu?

How do you distinguish between cold and flu when you experience feverish, coughing, difficult to move a muscle feeling, coughing, or sneezing? By knowing the exact health condition that you have, you can decide on choosing the right treatments and drugs that you should take! That’s why you should clearly understand the difference between cold and flu?

You might also like to read more about symptoms of cold & flu and simple tips to treat cold, before continuing!

Generally, cold is a kind of respiratory illness (milder than flu). The symptoms are also not as severe as flu symptoms which may only make you feel not-good for a few days. On the other hand, the symptoms of flu may make us feel bad for a few days to weeks, even sometimes (in rare cases) can make you get serious health problems. And both cold and flu are caused by viruses --not bacteria!

What is actually common cold?

Generally, it is a viral infection that occurs in the throat & nose (the upper respiratory tract). When having cold, you may not be comfortable throughout your day but it is usually harmless. Hinovirus is one of common viruses that cause common cold!

In many cases, common cold will go away in about 6-12 days. And if you symptoms don’t improve more than 10-12 days, you should see a doctor to get the right treatments.

There are about 100 viruses or more that can cause common cold, and this is one of reasons why the symptoms of this illness tend to vary greatly! You may experience cough, sore throat, and runny/stuffy nose. Sometimes you may also experience the congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes. The other symptoms may include; mild-fatigue, mild-headache, itchy in the throat, and fever with low grade.

And some factors that can put you at higher chance of having cold may include:

1. Season/weather! People (either for adults or children) are more susceptible to this illness in winter and autumn when the cold temperature surrounding us!
2. Your immune system. People who have good immune system in their body are more likely to be stronger to against any viruses of cold. You can do regular exercise, eating healthy foods, and getting adequate rest to keep well the performance of your immune system.
3. Age! Children are more susceptible to common cold than adults. The developing progress of their immune system may be one of the reasons why children still cannot protect their body as optimal as in adults.

How about with flu?

In the first days of flu may seem like symptoms of common cold (such as sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, and sneezing). Flu is more likely to come/attack on suddenly, while cold tends to develop slowly.

As mentioned before, the symptoms of flu are also relatively worse than signs/symptoms of cold! The common symptoms may include; nasal congestion, dry-cough, sweats/chills or fever over 38 degrees of Celsius (100 degrees of Fahrenheit), aching muscles in the legs/arms/back, weakness/fatigue, and even headache.

And some risk factors of flu (conditions that can put someone at higher chance of having this illness) include:

1. Pregnant women! In the 2nd & 3rd trimester of pregnancy, pregnant women are more likely to experience influenza complications.
2. Immune system! Weakened immune system also can contribute to put someone at higher risk of this illness. The weakened body’s immune can be caused by many factors, such as HIV/AIDS, corticosteroids, anti-rejection drugs, unhealthy lifestyles, etc.
3. Certain conditions (occupation). People like child care personal or nurse are more likely to get higher chance of having this illness because they tend to experience more/frequent close contact with patients with influenza.
4. Some chronic diseases! Some chronic illness like diabetes or asthma may also higher the chance of influenza complications.
5. Age! Seasonal flu tends to attack elderly people (over the age of 65) and young children. The H1N1 virus that was so popular in 2009 occurred in many young adults and teenagers.

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Reference: MayoClinic
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