Is It a Cold or the Flu?
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
| Symptoms | Cold | Flu |
|---|---|---|
| fever | rare | characteristic, high (102°–104° F); lasts 3–4 days |
| headache | rare | prominent |
| general aches, pains | slight | usual; often severe |
| fatigue, weakness | quite mild | can last up to 2–3 weeks |
| extreme exhaustion | never | early and prominent |
| stuffy nose, sore throat | common | sometimes |
| Complications | sinus congestion or earache | bronchitis, pneumonia; can be life-threatening |
| Prevention | none | annual vaccination; antiviral medicines—see your doctor |
| Treatment | only temporary relief of symptoms | antiviral medicines—see your doctor |
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
