Do I Have a Cold or the Flu?

Although symptoms of the common cold and of the flu (influenza) overlap, there are important differences between the two.

The common cold is usually a mild illness with symptoms including:

• Nasal congestion and runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore or scratchy throat
• Cough
• Mild fatigue and fever, or no fever at all

The flu is typically more severe with symptoms that include:

• Fever, often above 102 degrees
• Cough
• Chills
• Marked fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Mild nasal congestion and sore throat

The flu may result in secondary infections like pneumonia, or may worsen existing medical problems like heart failure, asthma, COPD or diabetes.

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