Difference between Cold and Flu

You’re feeling unwell with a cough, sore throat, headache and sniffle. Do you know if you have a cold or the flu? Know the difference and treat accordingly.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is caused by the RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae. The common cold, on the other hand, can be caused by over 200 different viruses. The most common virus blamed with causing the cold are the rhinoviruses.

Both cold and flu are respiratory illnesses that are caused by different pathogens. Many people cannot tell the difference between a cold and a flu, even when they are they suffering from one. This is mainly true as both illnesses have similar symptoms

 

Cold Vs. Flu

• Flu may cause a high-grade fever while a cold may cause a mild fever
• Flu usually start with a dry throat and nose; a cold usually starts with a runny nose
• Flu may cause muscle and body ache; colds affect the nose and throat
• Flu may lead to severe exhaustion; colds may cause mild exhaustion
• Flu may lead to severe chest discomfort and cough, cold leads to mild to moderate chest discomfort, hacking cough.

A flu can lead to more severe complications, such as pneumonia, which is life threatening, cold in severe case causes sinus congestion and middle ear infection.

Both infections are highly infectious & a person can easily be infected through close contact with someone who has the virus, and breathing in droplets of air when someone coughs or sneezes.

 

How can we prevent Cold or Flu?

• The most important measure for the prevention of cold and flu is Frequent Hand Washing. Wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds suggest the expert, this will help to get rid of viruses that you might have acquired from touching contaminated surfaces. It is important to develop habit of washing hands properly; especially children should be insisted to wash hands frequently in proper method.
• Avoid close contact of infected individuals as much as possible. Try to avoid sharing utensils also.
• Smoking cessation and effective stress management greatly reduces the susceptibility of catching cold.
• You can also get a flu vaccine to prevent seasonal influenza, especially consider for school going children.