Your nose is running, you’re coughing, and you feel tired and achy. Do you have the flu or just a cold?
Both the flu and common cold are caused by contagious respiratory viruses, and they share many symptoms. But there are differences that can help you figure out why you’re sick, so that you can know what to expect and seek out the right treatment.
This is especially important if you have the flu, which is more likely than the common cold to lead to potentially serious complications, like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Flu Symptoms in Adults
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and tend to be more severe than symptoms of the common cold. You may feel like you were hit by a truck and struggle to get out of bed.Symptoms typically include:
Occasionally adults with the flu have no fever, at least not at first. Some go on to develop a fever, some do not. “Children tolerate high fevers better than adults, but 102 degrees F is a significant fever, especially for adults,” says Randy Bergen, MD, a pediatric infectious disease consultant in Walnut Creek, California.
How Long Do Flu Symptoms Last?
Flu symptoms usually last for two or three days, but certain symptoms can linger:
Fever may persist for five days.
You may cough and feel weak and fatigued for weeks.
Your airways may be irritated or you might feel wheezy for up to two months.
Signs of a Flu Emergency in Adults
The following warning signs should prompt immediate medical care for adults with flu, including:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Persistent confusion, dizziness, inability to arouse
Seizures
Not urinating
Severe muscle pain
Severe weakness or unsteadiness
Fever or cough that improves, then returns or worsens
Worsening of chronic medical conditions
Flu Symptoms in Babies and Children
Flu symptoms in children are similar to those in adults, but children are more likely to experience vomiting and diarrhea.Babies who have the flu seem especially sick, fussy, uncomfortable, and unhappy, compared with babies who just have a cold.
Signs of a Flu Emergency in Babies and Children
Babies and children under age 5 are especially at risk for serious flu-related complications. Children with chronic health problems, such as asthma, have the highest risk of complications.Symptoms in babies or young children that should prompt immediate medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish lips or face
Ribs pulling in with each breath
Chest pain
Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
Dehydration (no urine for eight hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
Not alert or interactive when awake
Seizures
Fever over 104 degrees F not controlled by fever-reducing medication
Any fever in children younger than 12 weeks
Fever or cough that improves, then returns or worsens
Worsening of chronic medical conditions
Symptoms of the Common Cold
Cold symptoms typically appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.Symptoms of a cold may include:
When nasal symptoms start, you may have an excess of clear mucus that gradually thickens and may change color to yellow or green — this is usually normal and not a sign of a bacterial infection.
How Long Do Cold Symptoms Last?
The full life cycle of a cold is usually between 4 and 10 days, although some people may have a cough that lasts into the second week.
When to Seek Medical Care for Cold Symptoms and Complications
Most people recover from colds without incident, but complications requiring medical care (such as sinus or ear infections or acute bronchitis) are possible.
For Adults Seek medical care for the following:
Unusually severe cold symptoms
High fever or a fever lasting longer than four days
Dehydration
Difficulty breathing
Symptoms that don’t improve after 10 days
A cough that worsens even as other symptoms improve
Flare-up of a chronic medical condition such as asthma
For Children Get medical care immediately if a child experiences any of the following:
Fever of 100.4 degrees F in newborns up to 12 weeks
Rising fever or fever lasting more than two days
More-intense symptoms, such as headache, throat pain, or cough
Difficulty breathing or wheezing
Ear pain
Unusual fussiness or drowsiness
Lack of interest in eating
The Takeaway
Flu symptoms can overlap with those of the common cold; both can cause runny nose, coughing, sore throat, and headache, among other shared issues.
Flu symptoms tend to come on more suddenly than those of the common cold, and can be more severe.
Flu fatigue tends to be greater than feeling tired because of a cold; with flu you may even struggle to get out of bed.
Whether resulting from the flu or a cold, certain complications such as difficulty breathing should mobilize you to seek emergency medical care.
