Flu vs Common Cold, symptoms and microbes causing them

Flu symptoms can be mild or severe. People with flu typically have most of the symptoms below.

High fever (100.4-104 ℉ or 38-40 °C)

Feeling chills

Headaches

Runny or stuffy nose (having trouble breathing through the nose)

Sore throat

Muscle or body aches

Feeling tired

Dry cough changing to productive mucus

Influenza virus is responsible for the flu symptoms. However, many more viruses including COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2), dengue virus, hepatitis A & B viruses, measles viruscause flu-like symptoms. Also, the malaria parasite also causes flu-like symptoms. It is therefore prudent to consult a physician for proper diagnosis.

Typical cold symptoms are slightly different from flu symptoms and are shown below.

 Low grade fever (100.4 ℉ or 38 °C) especially in children

Running and stuffy nose (having trouble breathing through the nose)

Sneezing

Sore throat

Mild headache

Feeling tired

body aches and a dry cough may develop

Many viruses cause the common cold including rhinovirus, some human coronaviruses(HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63), Varicella Zoster virus (VZV), adenoviruses, etc. It is therefore prudent to consult a physician for proper diagnosis.