what's the difference between a cold and the flu?



Answers:
Sax Rohmer gave the right answer. Everyone who said a cold was bacterial and can be treated by antibiotics - sorry, you're wrong. The common cold is caused by a virus, just like the flu. It's just a different virus. If you don't believe me, try Googling (or see link below). If you take antibiotics, your cold will last three to six days. If you don't take antibiotics, your cold will still last three to six days.

A cold will make your nose run and you will sneeze. You may have a sore throat, earache or a cough, and if it's a really bad cold you may feel feverish and want to stay in bed. But it is a short-lived thing, only a week or so.

If you really get the flu, you are going to be sick for anything from two to six weeks. The more you fight it, the longer it will take!

Sometimes, after a cold or flu, you may develop bronchitis or a sinus infection. If that happens, you'll need antibiotics to clear them up. How do you tell the difference between a nose blocked by a cold/flu and a sinus infection? When you blow your nose, if it's infected it will be green or yellow (sorry, hope no one is eating dinner reading this).

about 1 week
the flu is a virus, which is y it can be cured yet mutates, a cold is just bactirea in your body that strikes when your amune system is weaker than normal for what ever reason it may be
Cold is caused by a bacteria.. Flu is caused by a virus.
no fevers when yu have a cold.. only runny nose
cold is your health condition during a particular season and flu is having fever after having cold
a cold is caused by germs; the flu is a virus. You can still function with a cold but you will be too weak to function with a flu. Flu will give you a fever, a cold will not.
a cold is a bloked then runny nose and heaps of sneezing the flu is a virus body aches.
You have obviously never had flu, you cannot get out of bed with flu, you ache all over and have a really high temperature, and it's not unknown to get delirious with flu.
The flu is caused by a virus. A cold isn't caused by a virus, it's just a response of your body to different actors sch as cold, etc
Flu involves a virus, while cold is not taking care enough of yourself, staying at a low temperature without being properly dressed, drinking something too cold for your throat, and so on.
I was told this : You are ill, you are laid on the couch and you see a £20 note on the floor in front of you . If you have a cold, you get off the couch and pick it up. If you have the flu, you dont care.
cold happens due to anythng in general
flu is more specialised and due to virus infection, however both hve symptoms more or less the same.
they are completely different viruses.
a bit like apples and bananas
Both are caused by viruses, contrary to what some of the previous answers say. A cold is caused by, among others: rhinoviruses, coronaviruses certain echoviruses, paramyxoviruses, and coxsackieviruses; while inFLUenza viruses (either Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B or Influenzavirus C) cause flu.

Both types of viruses predominantly affect the respiratory tract, although flu is usually more severe (e.g. numerous flu pandemics = many deaths, but one microbiology lecturer told us that the 1918 flu pandemic deaths were actually more due to subsequent BACTERIAL infection following flu virus infection).
Well, I think a cold is bacterial and therefore may be treated with antibiotics, whereas the flu is viral and cured by time. Either way, a good remedy is to go to bed, no matter how hot it is, Take 3 aspirin and drink a cup of hot chicken soup. I am serious. About an hour later, you'll start to perspire big time. Do not get out of bed. Stay covered and do what is called "sweating it out". In the morning, you should feel better, though weaker. An important issue also is to make sure you drink a lot of water. About a tumbler every hour should be fine.
They are caused by different viruses. Flu is more debilitating but can be fought with medication. A cold is incurable and can only be fought by the bodies own antibodies.
flu is viral.

cold is not really a condition -- but more of a side effect. it is your body's response to anything that may cause it. it could be something as harmless as exposure to cold weathers, allergies etc. or it could be a bacterial or viral infection in its early stages.
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