English archive > Cold > Differences and similarities betweem a cold and the flue

Sometimes, when we have a runny nose, cough and a sore neck, we may seem to have the flu, when in fact we may simply have a cold.

These are the differences between one illness and the other:

Characteristics FLU COMMON COLD Start Sudden Gradual Fever 38o-41o Sometimes Muscle pain Yes No Headache Intense Sometimes Backache Yes No Sneezing Little Yes Swallowing pain Sometimes Yes Itchy eyes Sometimes Yes Very runny nose Sometimes Yes Cough Sometimes Yes