The flu and the common cold are caused by different viruses, although they are both respiratory illnesses. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two because both a cold and the flu have similar flu-like symptoms, without a doctor’s expertise, due to the fact that both cause many of the same symptoms. If a person has the flu, there is a special test that can be carried out within the first few days of the flu to tell if the flu is the cause of the person’s illness.

Flu symptoms generally:

•Come on quickly and severely.
•Include fever, which tend to be higher and last longer (3 to 4 days) than the occasional low-grade fever that may accompany a cold.
•Include body aches and severe tiredness or fatigue.
•Nausea
•Loss of appetite

Common cold symptoms:

•Gradually get worse over a few days.
•Are more likely to include runny or stuffy nose than the flu.
•Often include a sore throat, while flu rarely does.
•May cause tiredness, but it is much less severe than the exhaustion that comes with the flu.
•Do not usually result in serious health problems