Health Check: when is "the flu" really a cold?

Credit: Chris Bickel/Science/IFPMA

For many people, a severe cold is "the flu", i.e. infuenza.

In fact, a cold & influenza are quite different:

Cold
● a cold & influenza are caused by different viruses
● just to complicate things, colds are caused by over 200 different viruses
● colds are characterised by upper respiratory tract symptoms — some or all of: sneezing, running &/or blocked nose, sore throat, cough, slight fever, headache
● on average, expect to have 3 colds per year
● no immunisation available

Influenza
● much more serious disease
● upper respiratory tract symptoms are less prominent
● high fever, chills, shaking, muscle & joint pain, lack of energy, headache, cough
● may lead to pneumonia
● frequency is more like 3 cases of influenza in a lifetime

No immunisation is available against colds — seasonal immunisation is available against influenza. Immunisation provides protection against the 3 influenza viruses which are most likely to be causing infections in that season. I.e. immunisation is required each year.

Contrary to common expectation, a "flu shot" (i.e. influenza immunisation) provides no protection against colds.

https://theconversation.com/health-check-when-is-the-flu-really-a-cold-25150?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+22+April+2014&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+22+April+2014+CID_7292b5082a3d522480d894271b5512ad&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=But%20as%20Frank%20Bowden%20points%20out / flu cold mild illness resolves without treatment sneeze sneezing runny running blocked nose sore scratchy throat cough low-grade fever headache malaise lack of energy doctors doctor upper respiratory tract infection URTI common 200 different viral subtypes cause colds rhinovirus coronavirus respiratory syncytial virus RSV metapneumovirus parainfluenza bronchus bronchiole small airways lungs hyper-reactive trigger asthma attack post-viral cough whooping cough complication complicated ear infection sinusitis viral antibiotics illness influenza virus less common severe disease nasal symptoms sore throat sicker high fever chills shaking severe muscle aches malaise headache cough /