What's the difference between a cold and the flu?

Answer by  SigniFire (14)

They are quite similar, however there are important differences between them. A cold is typically a mild viral infection which affects only the nose and respiratory passages, whereas the flu, on the other hand, is more serious and affects the nose, respiratory passages, and often is accompanied by a fever.

Answer by  CindyCroft (55)

The main difference between a cold and a flu is the flu comes on suddenly and with great intensity with symptoms of body ache, intestinal issues, fever, and/or sore throat. A cold will begin with minor symptoms like a scratchy throat or a cough and get progressively worse until it peaks and then becomes progressively better.

Answer by  wj (646)

The flu is much nastier and longer-lasting than a cold and affects your whole system including your muscles. A cold mainly affects your head and doesn't make you as ill.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

They are two separate virus families. Furthermore, influenza can cause stomach problems like vomiting and diarrhea; the cold virus does not do this. Influenza typically lasts longer than a cold.

Answer by  LexiP (722)

Influenza and the common cold are caused by separate viruses. It might be worth noting that there is no vaccine for the common cold due to how quickly it mutates, but a flu vaccine is released just about every year.

Answer by  Mable (3008)

They are caused by different viruses; the flu is more apt to have fever, body aches, and possibly nausea as symptoms. Influenza can be life-threatening, and there have been wide-spread, lethal outbreaks -- this is why vaccines are developed and targeted at the strains that are expected to infect people.

Answer by  sailoryue (853)

a cold mainly effects how your breathing, it causes your nose to be stuffy or runny and your chest to be congested. a flu however effects the whole body. your whole body can ache, you can have bad fever or chills. a flu can be life threatening even.

Answer by  2252525jena (282)

They are interchangeable. You are correct in that regard. There is no difference but some people like to use certain words over others. Thus, that is the only difference in that regard.