Cold and Flu
Is it the Cold or Flu?
Visit the Seasonal Flu page for more information.
| Symptoms | Cold | Flu |
| fever | rare | characteristic, high (102-104°F); lasts three to four days |
| headache | rare | prominent |
| general aches, pains | slight | usual; often severe |
| fatigue, weakness | quite mild | can last up to two to three weeks |
| extreme exhaustion | never | early and prominent |
| stuffy nose | common | sometimes |
| sneezing | usual | sometimes |
| sore throat | common | sometimes |
| chest discomfort, cough | mild to moderate; hacking cough | common, can become severe |
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Updated on: September 23, 2021