{"id":16478,"date":"2020-10-27T15:15:27","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T19:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=16478"},"modified":"2025-01-13T14:40:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T19:40:26","slug":"cold-vs-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cold-vs-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold vs. flu: What’s the difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You open your eyes one morning; your throat is scratchy, your head hurts, and although you just woke up, you feel tired. All you want to do is pull the covers up over your head and go back to sleep. You know that if it\u2019s a cold, you will probably feel better in a few days, but if it is the flu, you should call your healthcare provider\u2014after all, medicines for the flu work best if you take it within a day or two of symptoms. But right now, you aren\u2019t sure what to do because your symptoms fit both.<\/span><\/p>\n

The common cold and influenza (the flu) are both respiratory illnesses. Although it can sometimes be difficult to tell them apart, generally, the flu is more serious. In this article, we explain the symptoms of cold versus flu, what causes these viral infections, and when to see a healthcare provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Cold<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are more than 200 different viruses that cause the common cold, and <\/span>rhinoviruses cause 40%\u201350% of them<\/span><\/a>. Some other viruses that cause colds include respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).<\/span><\/p>\n

Some colds are caused by <\/span>types of coronaviruses<\/span><\/a> (such as 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1). But COVID-19 is different from these coronaviruses in that it generally causes a more severe illness, and is the newest. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, chills, shaking, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, and diarrhea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Colds are easily spread to others through airborne droplets from a cough or sneeze by an infected person. These droplets can remain in the air even after you have left the area. When someone inhales them, they can catch your cold. If the droplets land on a surface, they can survive on the surface <\/span>and remain infectious for several hours<\/span><\/a>. Touching that surface and then touching your face can transfer the virus to you. That\u2019s why it is essential to wash your hands frequently.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people think colds are caused by being in cold weather, but they are not, despite the fact that colds occur more frequently in the fall and winter. One reason the virus spreads more quickly in the colder months is because people spend more time indoors and in closer proximity to one another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Flu<\/span><\/h3>\n

While there are several hundred viruses that cause colds, there is only one that causes flu: influenza. Influenza is further categorized into four different types: A, B, C, and D. Influenza viruses A and B cause seasonal epidemics, and type A is the only one known to cause pandemics. Type C causes only mild symptoms, and type D is primarily found in cattle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As with the cold, the flu virus is passed from person to person through <\/span>inhaling droplets in the air<\/span><\/a> or touching a surface that someone with influenza recently contaminated. The flu can spread starting the day before symptoms appear and for up to seven days after the start of symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How long is the flu contagious?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Cold vs. flu causes<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

<\/td>\nCold<\/b><\/td>\nFlu<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Causes<\/b><\/td>\n200+ viruses; rhinoviruses account for 50%<\/span><\/td>\n4 types of\u00a0 influenza viruses (A, B, C, and D)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spread<\/b><\/td>\nInhaling droplets in the air or touching a surface that an infected person recently touched<\/span><\/td>\nInhaling droplets in the air or touching a surface that an infected person recently touched<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Prevalence<\/b><\/h2>\n

Cold<\/span><\/h3>\n

The cold virus is often referred to as the \u201ccommon cold\u201d because, well, it is common. There are more than <\/span>1 billion cases <\/span><\/a>of colds in the United States each year. It accounts for more doctor\u2019s visits than any other health problem and is the most frequent reason for missing school or work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, and children get an average of six to eight colds per year, according to the <\/span>American Lung Association<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flu<\/span><\/h3>\n

Because influenza is not a reportable disease, the CDC can only estimate how many people in the United States are affected each year. They develop estimates based on data from the <\/span>U.S. Influenza Surveillance System<\/span><\/a>\u2014a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local health departments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Flu season, which is from October until May, is when most people develop the flu. During <\/span>the 2023\u20132024 flu season<\/span><\/a> (from October 2023 through April 2024), the CDC estimates that there were:<\/span><\/p>\n