With the onset of flu season, they're everywhere these days: the sneezers, the coughers, the folks with runny noses and tissues clutched in hand. Cold and flu are the most common types of respiratory illnesses in the world. While it is difficult to tell the difference between the two viruses, flu symptoms are typically more severe than a cold. These two conditions are sometimes wrongly interchangeably used to refer to any kind of mild infection of the upper respiratory tract. However, they shouldn't be confused as there are many differences:
Cause
It has been observed that 200 varieties of viruses (with the most common being rhinovirus and coronavirus) may be the root of infections causing common cold. On the other hand, flu also happens to be a viral infection caused by a family of respiratory virus known as influenza viruses, but it differs greatly from the common cold.
Symptoms
The recognized symptoms of the Flu include: high fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and tiredness. Swine flu (H1N1) and the regular seasonal flu share many symptoms, but people with swine flu also have stomach problems like vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms of the common cold are similar to the flu, except that they are very mild. Symptoms of common cold include: runny or stuffy nose, cough, low grade fever or no fever and sore throat.
Duration of symptoms
Flu symptoms usually get better over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel tired for a week or longer. Also, the symptoms may last longer in children and old people. The duration of a cold is usually about a week, although it can last a little longer sometimes.
Effect on routine work
Patients suffering from cold usually do not experience tiredness, and if they do, it is only mild. Flu symptoms however, involve moderate to severe levels of tiredness where the person is unable to perform daily tasks. Similarly, people suffering from flu may run a fever of 100 to 102 degrees (or higher, in case of children). While in case of cold, only some people may develop a slight fever.
Speed of attack
As far as the symptoms are concerned, they appear gradually in case of cold and are often noticeable, while the symptoms of flu may suddenly creep up within the patient during 3-6 hours.
Effect of human immune system
The human immune system is efficient in fighting most of the virus and hence, one can get relieve from common cold within a couple of days. Flu, on the other hand, can be fatal for people with a weak immune system like babies and children.
Treatment
In case of common cold, there are currently no medications or herbal remedies which have been conclusively demonstrated to shorten the duration of illness. Although there are range of medications that may offer relief from some symptoms while the body's own immune system works to recover from infection. In case of flu, there are a few prescription antiviral drugs that can reduce how bad your symptoms are and how long you're sick by at least one day if taken soon after infection (within 48 hours of symptoms). Over-the-counter medications can help reduce the severity of flu symptoms.
Vaccinations
There is no vaccination against common cold. On the contrary, flu vaccine can effectively help in prevention of flu. It is often recommended to children older than 6 months, adults older than 50, and people with chronic illness or suppressed immune systems to go for the annual vaccination as they are at a high risk of contracting flu.
Seasonality
The peak time of flu infections has been observed to be November to March, while common cold has no specific duration of prevalence.
It doesn't matter is it is Cold or Flu; always remember that treating yourself holistically will start to take you towards better overall health.
