Influenza viruses are responsible for the flu, with three main types affecting humans: influenza A, B, and C. The most common types during flu season are A and B. As the common cold and the flu have similar symptoms, it can be tricky or even impossible to know which of these illnesses a person has. In general, the flu is worse than a cold. While the symptoms of a cold come on gradually, flu symptoms begin abruptly, and they tend to be more intense.
A runny or stuffy nose is more common with a cold. On the other hand, the following symptoms are common with the flu but uncommon with a cold:. Neither vomiting nor diarrhea is usually associated with the common cold, but both can be present in the flu. People may have the flu without key symptoms such as fever. To know for sure whether they have a cold or the flu, a person can get a special diagnostic test within a few days of their symptoms starting. Colds do not usually lead to any further issues, although they can increase the chance of people with asthma having an asthma attack.
Conversely, the flu can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia or bacterial infections. Each year, flu-related complications cause thousands of hospitalizations and deaths. Most people recover from the flu in a few days to 2 weeks. Cold symptoms, which are generally milder, typically peak within 2—3 days and then get better gradually over a week or two. People can catch colds and flu in the same way. Both viruses are contagious and can transfer to a person who:. Colds are very common respiratory illnesses that are usually due to infections with rhinoviruses.
Colds are one of the most frequent reasons for people missing work or school, with the average adult in the U. Most people will have had many colds from infancy all the way through to later life.
Viruses that cause the cold typically enter the body through the nose and sinuses. In response, the nose creates clear mucus to wash the virus away. The symptoms of colds appear gradually and peak within 2—3 days.
The most common symptoms include:. This year, the flu virus that is spreading is new and different enough so that many people, especially younger people, do not have much resistance. This is the reason why so many people got sick from H1N1 flu in the spring and fall of and we expect to continue seeing many more people, especially children, come down with the flu this winter and spring. Every year people get sick with the flu and every year some people die or are hospitalized from the flu.
With the H1N1 flu, the people who are most likely to get the flu and who may get sickest are pregnant women, children under 5 years, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or lung disease, people under 19 years who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, people 65 years or older, and residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.
Because getting the vaccine is the best protection against H1N1 flu it is important for everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible. As of December 10, , H1N1 vaccine is now available to everyone and anyone over the age of six months can and should get the vaccine. It is particularly important for people most vulnerable to H1N1 flu to get vaccinated. This includes pregnant women, people who live with or care for children under 6 months of age, health care workers, emergency medical responders, persons ages 6 months years, and people years old who have chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
Because seasonal flu may be around at the same time as H1N1 flu, you should also get the seasonal flu vaccine if it is available to you. In: Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Nov. Flu: What to do if you get sick. Types of influenza viruses. Tosh PK expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Influenza vaccination.
Mayo Clinic; Guide for considering influenza testing when influenza viruses are circulating in the community. Renaud DL expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Reye syndrome. Merck Manual Professional Version.
Ibuprofen drug facts label. Food and Drug Administration. Acetaminophen oral. Prevent seasonal flu. Accessed Oct. How can you tell the difference between a cold and flu? What CDC Does. To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
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