Stuffy nose, scratchy throat, headaches— is it a cold or the flu?
Do you have the cold or the flu?
You think it’s just a cold, but your friends and family worry that it might be the flu. But does the difference really matter? Absolutely, according to experts. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, and because there are only a few variants of the virus, it is relatively easy to treat once you have it. On the other hand, with over 200 other viruses that can trigger it, a cold can be trickier to treat. Here is a handy visual that can help you recognize if you have a cold or the flu based on your symptoms.
What is the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu?
| COLD | FLU | |
| Sometimes | Headache | Very common |
| Runny, stuffy | Nose | Runny, stuffy |
| Low or none | Fever | High |
| Mild, hacking cough | Cough | Severe cough |
| Very common | Sneezing | Sometimes |
| Slight aches | Aches | Severe pains |
| Sore | Throat | Sometimes sore |
| Mild | Fatigue | Can last for several weeks |
| Normal; may feel sluggish | Energy | Extreme exhaustion |
| Symptoms may last for 7-10 days | Duration | Symptoms may last for several weeks |
How to relieve cold symptoms
- Increase fluid intake.
- Rest
- For chapped skin around nose and lips, apply petroleum jelly.
- Take doctor recommended medication for your symptoms.
