What is the difference between the common cold and the flu?
The flu is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. The common cold is less severe compared to the flu and is an infection of the nose and throat which includes milder symptoms such as a runny nose, congestion, sneezing, weakened senses of taste and smell, scratchy throat, coughing and a mild fever, says Dr Gordon. The flu develops more suddenly than a common cold. Who should get the flu vaccine? Everyone should get the flu vaccine says Dr Gordon, but it’s essential for: • Anyone who wants to avoid the flu. • Adults 50 years or older. • All children aged six months old to their fifth birthday. • Adults and children ages two to 64 years old with chronic medical conditions, especially asthma, other lung diseases and heart disease. • All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season. • Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities. • Health-care workers involved in direct patient care. Can you get the flu from getting a flu injection? “
The flu refers to a syndrome usually caused by influenza virus, hence the origin of the term “flu.” Other viruses can also cause this syndrome, although not usually the same ones as cause the common cold. Apart from the type of causative virus, the main difference between the flu and the common cold is the degree and type of symptoms. The flu usually appears suddenly and within a day you feel very ill. Profound malaise is characteristic, accompanied by dry cough and fever, often to 103° or higher. By contrast, cold symptoms usually build up over one or more days and, although the symptoms are annoying, you don’t feel systemically ill. Runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing all characteristic of the common cold are usually absent in the flu. The flu also tends to last longer than a cold. Once the fever and ill feeling have abated, symptoms of weakness or lethargy may persist for another week or so. The symptoms of a cold are usually completely gone within a week after it began. Most patie
