As colder months approach, differentiating between a cold and a flu can become challenging when symptoms seem similar. Understanding the common symptoms of each illness can help you make an informed choice about treatment. Here’s what to know about cold and flu symptoms and when it’s time for a doctor visit.
Cold symptoms Colds, caused by viruses, generally lead to mild, short-lived symptoms that focus mainly on the nose, sinuses or throat, according to HealthLink B.C . Common cold symptoms include runny nose and sneezing, red eyes, sore throat, cough, headaches and body aches.
According to B.C.’s health information service, if colds happen often for an individual or if symptoms last more than two weeks, the cause may be allergies or sinusitis rather than a cold.
Flu symptoms The flu, or influenza, is a more severe respiratory illness than the common cold. According to federal government’s public health agency, symptoms include the sudden appearance of fever, cough, muscle aches and pain. Other common symptoms are chills, tiredness, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite and runny or stuffy nose.
The health agency also warns that some people, including children, may have diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Serious complications and outcomes of the flu are possible, including worsened chronic health conditions, heart complications, pneumonia and respiratory failure, hospitalization and death. In some cases, flu symptoms overlap with respiratory illnesses like RSV and COVID.