In winter it happens to almost everyone: A blocked nose, runny nose, and a cough that refuses to go away. But how do you know if it’s a mild cold or actually the flu, which can be much more severe?
In the cold months, viruses spread much more easily, mainly in closed and crowded spaces. In addition, cold weather may weaken the immune system in the nasal area, making it harder for the body to fight infections. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the number of cold and flu cases rises significantly in winter.
However, many people tend to confuse the two illnesses. While a cold is usually expressed by a runny nose, blocked nose, and mild cough, flu symptoms are considered more severe and include fever, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, and a dry cough. With a cold, symptoms peak after two to three days and usually pass within about a week.
Britain’s health services (NHS) – where the flu season is also severe – highlighted on their Instagram account the 3 main differences between flu and a cold:
1. Speed of symptom onset
Flu appears suddenly – sometimes within just a few hours. A cold, on the other hand, develops gradually.
2. Main area affected
A cold mainly affects the nose and throat. Flu affects the entire body and causes a general feeling of exhaustion.
3. Severity of symptoms
With flu, symptoms are stronger and usually include high fever, muscle aches, and headaches – symptoms that are less common in a regular cold.
Cold and flu symptoms can be similar, but flu tends to be more severe. They also emphasize that the flu vaccine helps protect and reduces complications.
In summary, if you feel that the illness “hit all at once” and you are suffering from fever and aches throughout the body – it may not be just another innocent winter cold.
How do you identify the flu?
Flu is characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms and an overall exhausting feeling:
• High fever that appears suddenly
• Widespread body aches
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Fatigue or marked exhaustion
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea or abdominal pain (mainly in children)
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Nausea/vomiting
In children, ear pain and a decrease in regular activity may also appear.
What characterizes a cold?
A cold usually starts gradually and remains milder:
• Runny nose/blocked nose
• Mild cough
• Sneezing
• Hoarseness
• Sore throat
• Mild feeling of fatigue
• Sometimes low fever, mild muscle aches, pressure in the ears/face
• Temporary reduction in sense of taste/smell