It is not possible to tell the difference between a cold and the flu when you first become ill. Both the flu and a cold can be caused by a variety of different viruses.

Cold symptoms are generally much milder and come on more gradually than those of the flu. (Image credit: LaylaBird via Getty Images) Colds and the flu are two incredibly common respiratory infections.

The Difference Between a Cold and the Flu, According to Doctors. Jennifer Larson. Mon, December 5, 2022 at 6:47 PM UTC. 4 min read. From symptoms to treatment options, here's everything you need ...

Cold and the flu have similar symptoms. However, there are key differences between the two. The common cold and influenza, commonly known as the flu, are very prevalent in the winter months. The ...

Decoding the symptoms between cold and flu. Recognizing cold vs flu differences starts with identifying symptoms. A cold typically begins with mild throat irritation, gradually progressing to ...

For both a cold and the flu, recovery begins with rest and supportive care. The symptoms are caused by your immune system’s fight against the viral invaders, so you want to help it along.

With the flu, symptoms can last between one and four days. For the common cold, most people recover in a week or ten days. For COVID, symptoms generally last anywhere between two to 14 days.

The CDC reports a cold can be caused by many viruses, but the primary cause comes from rhinoviruses. The symptoms for both viruses present some overlap, but there are a few differences between the ...

While a cold and the flu share several symptoms, there are clear ways of differentiating between them - and this can be vital when deciding how to treat your illness.

The differences in symptoms between COVID, RSV and the flu are minimal, Blumenthal said, since they all present with symptoms like a runny nose, cough and fever. What the CDC and Mayo Clinic say ...

In some ways, it is easy to confuse the common cold with the flu. After all, they're both contagious respiratory illnesses , and they share many symptoms, such as headache, sore throat and cough.