When tissues become our faithful companions and coughing causes sleepless nights, we know we've been struck down. This often raises the question: is it the flu or just a cold? Although the two illnesses appear similar at first glance, they differ in terms of symptoms, progression, and duration.
"Oh, this doesn't feel good at all" – if this is your first thought in the morning, there's a good chance you've caught a cold or even the flu. While colds can be caused by over 200 different viruses, only influenza viruses – more precisely, virus types A and B – are responsible for the flu. Nevertheless, they share one major similarity: they both affect our respiratory system. And that's precisely why they can easily be confused. But how can you tell the difference between the flu and a cold?
Flu vs. common cold: The most important symptoms compared
Similar, yet with subtle differences: cough, sore throat, runny nose – even though many symptoms of the flu and the common cold are very similar, their intensity often varies. The accompanying symptoms of the flu are usually quite pronounced, making you want nothing more than to go to bed. Body aches and headaches then add to the discomfort. High fever is also a typical symptom of the flu. A common cold, on the other hand, usually manifests itself somewhat more mildly: muscle and joint pain, as well as fever, are less common.
From the first sneeze to the last cough: The course of flu and the common cold
The differences between the flu and the common cold become clearer when you look at their progression more closely: The flu usually begins very suddenly – from one moment to the next you feel weak, feverish, and completely knocked out. With an incubation period (the time from infection to the first symptoms) of only one to two days, it shows what it has to offer right from the start. It often begins immediately with body aches, fever, and a sore throat. A dry, irritating cough also sets in early with the flu and can be particularly persistent. It often lasts for days without producing mucus and develops into a chesty cough. While the acute symptoms of the flu usually subside after five to seven days, the general feeling of illness can persist for much longer.
A common cold, on the other hand, creeps up slowly – the incubation period is about two to seven days. Usually, a scratchy throat is the first symptom, followed by a stuffy or runny nose and general malaise. The cough typically develops only after a few days: initially dry and irritating, it later becomes more productive and accompanied by mucus. The airways, irritated by the inflammation, can then cause a persistent dry, tickly cough that lasts beyond the acute phase of the illness. However, the symptoms usually improve within a few days, so a cold can disappear after just a week. A herbal cough remedy like Prospan can help alleviate cough symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness: the special ivy extract contained in Prospan acts as an expectorant and can also help soothe the urge to cough.
Flu and colds: How long am I contagious?
Whether it's the flu or a cold – when you've caught it, there's one thing you definitely don't want: to infect others. With both respiratory illnesses, it's actually true that you can be infectious one to two days before the first symptoms appear. The contagious period then lasts about a week – but this can vary from person to person and therefore from immune system to immune system. As a general rule, anyone with acute symptoms is contagious.