Difference Between Cold And Flu - Symptoms, Complications, Recovery

The cold and flu are both respiratory illnesses with overlapping symptoms, but there are crucial differences between them. This article will help delineate these differences for a better understanding:

Cold Vs Flu: Key Differences

Flu

Cold

Severity

Flu symptoms are typically severe and intense

Cold symptoms are generally less severe than the flu

Health Risks

Flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, worsened chronic heart disease, and increased asthma attacks. Other complications include ear and sinus infections.

Colds rarely lead to health complications unless the individual has a weak immune system.

Symptoms

Fever, fatigue, chills, body aches, headaches, cough, and a runny or blocked nose.

Mild fever, runny or blocked nose.

Recovery Time

Typically requires a longer recovery period than a cold

Colds usually have a shorter recovery period than the flu

Flu and COVID-19

Flu and COVID-19 share some common symptoms, but it's important to note that:

Flu is caused by influenza viruses, while COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
COVID-19 is highly contagious and spreads more rapidly than the flu.
Symptoms of COVID-19 usually take longer to appear compared to the flu.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Cold and Flu?

Cold and flu are respiratory illnesses with a few similar symptoms. However, symptoms of flu are more intense than the common cold. Flu also has an increased risk of developing life-threatening complications such as pneumonia.