Cold or Flu? Know The Symptoms

You wake up feeling a little run down. You might have a tingle in your nose. Then your eyes begin to water and you sneeze. You sneeze again. “Oh no…” you think to yourself – “I might be coming down with something…”

Both the Common Cold (Rhinovirus) and Flu (Influenza) share many of the same symptoms, especially when symptoms first appear. Generally, Cold symptoms are milder and develop more slowly than Flu symptoms, which can progress from mild to severe quite rapidly.

What Are The Common Cold Symptoms?

Cold symptoms often begin with the onset of sneezing, sore throat, or both. Symptoms often include runny nose, watery eyes, congestion, coughing… as well as a fatigue and overall feeling of being run down. Generally, a person who is showing symptoms of Cold/Rhinovirus is contagious , meaning he/she can pass the illness to other people. Assume that as long as you are exhibiting cold symptoms, you risk infecting other people who might come in contact with your bodily fluids. Your coughing and sneezing will also put a viral load into the air, which can infect healthy people as well.

How Long Does The Cold Last?

These symptoms generally last about a week¹⁾, to varying degrees, but the duration of the cold can be shorter or much longer depending on the overall health of the person. If the symptoms become progressively worse, or linger for more than a week, you could be developing a bacterial infection. When in doubt, call your doctor to discuss your concerns and possibly make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. If your sore throat becomes extremely painful or lasts for more than a few days, you need to be checked for Strep Throat infection, which is a potentially dangerous condition if not treated quickly with antibiotics.

What Are The Common Flu Symptoms?

Flu symptoms usually come on more quickly than those of the Common Cold and are typically more severe. Whereas the first day or two of a Cold infection may bring sneezing, mildly or moderately sore throat, etc., the Flu may come on with body/muscle aches, pounding headache, fatigue and many more symptoms, which are often more severe than a Common Cold. Flu symptoms may progress quickly to fever, chills, nausea, and severe respiratory distress. Although The Flu is caused by several types of influenza viruses, Flu can lead to pneumonia in some people, which is a life-threatening illness requiring immediate medical treatment.

Still Not Sure?

Comparison of Cold and Flu Symptoms

Symptom	Cold	Flu
Fever	Adults-uncommon; children- sometimes	High fever (100°F +; can last 3 or more days)
Runny/Stuffy nose	Common – Almost Always!	Sometimes
Sneezing	Common – Almost Always!	Sometimes
Headache	Sometimes (usually mild)	Common (can be severe)
Body aches	Sometimes (usually mild)	Common (can be severe)
Fatigue	Sometimes	Common (can last up to 2-3 weeks)
Exhaustion	Uncommon	Common (at the start of the flu)
Chills, sweat	Uncommon	Very Common
Nausea	Uncommon	Common
Loss of appetite	Sometimes	Common
Cough	Common	Common (can be painful & intense)
Sore throat	Very Common	Sometimes
Chest congestion, discomfort	Common (mild to moderate)	Common (can be painful & severe)
Watery eyes	Common	Sometimes

When Should I See My Doctor?

Whether the Cold or Flu, it’s time to contact your doctor if you experience²⁾:

• Fever that lasts more than a few days, or goes away, then comes back
• Persistent cough
• Blood in the phlegm
• Worsening congestion
• Painful sore throat

When Should I Go Straight To The ER?

• If you are too weak to stand
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
• Breathing is painful
• Inability to think clearly, dizziness, confusion
• Slurred speech
• Change in fingernail color: bluish or white nail beds³⁾