The difference between a flu and a cold

When you feel miserable, all you care about is getting better. During cold and flu season, it can be tricky to know for sure if you have influenza or a cold since so many of their symptoms overlap. There are only a few minor differences in their symptoms. A runny, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing and body aches are common with both; with the flu, you can expect to develop a fever, weakness, fatigue, chills and a headache.

The biggest differences between the symptoms of influenza and a cold are their severity and how quickly they develop. “The flu is like a cold on steroids.” Flu symptoms also occur abruptly. One day you are feeling fine and the next, all your symptoms arise. Compared to flu, a cold is milder and symptoms gradually set in. “If you don't feel horrible, you probably don't have flu.”