Symptom
| Cold
| Influenza
|
Fever
| Fever is rare with a cold.
| Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100�F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
|
Coughing
| A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
| A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
|
Aches
| Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
| Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
|
Stuffy Nose
| Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
| Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
|
Chills
| Chills are uncommon with a cold.
| 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
|
Tiredness
| Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
| Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
|
Sneezing
| Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
| Sneezing is not common with the flu.
|
Sudden Symptoms
| Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days..
| The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
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Headache
| A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
| A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
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Sore Throat
| Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
| Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
|
Chest Discomfort
| Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
| Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.
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