Published: 24th November, 2021 in: Cough, Cold and Flu
During the wintertime, colds and flu become much more common. And, whilst there are similarities between the two, it is important to know the difference so you can choose the best treatment for you.
Both colds and the flu can affect anyone, including adults, children and the elderly. The severity of your symptoms will depend on a range of factors such as age and underlying health conditions. Symptoms of the flu are usually worse than those of a cold.
For the most part, you can treat both colds and the flu at home, without seeing your GP. The flu can make some people seriously ill however, so medical advice should always be taken if necessary. For milder symptoms, visiting a pharmacist for advice should suffice.
We talk you through the main differences in symptoms between colds and flu, detailing the best treatments for each and how to prevent further spread.
The main symptoms of a cold include:
Symptoms generally develop over 1 or 2 days and gradually get better in around 1-2 weeks. Cold symptoms may last longer in children.
Whilst there is some crossover between cold and flu symptoms, flu symptoms are more severe and wide-ranging. The main symptoms of flu include:
A sudden fever – a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
Flu symptoms usually come on much quicker than cold symptoms and usually peak after 2-3 days. You should begin to feel much better within 5-8 days. You may have a lingering cough and still feel very tired for a further 2-3 weeks.
For children, symptoms of the flu are similar however, they may also experience pain in their ears and appear less active.
Always seek medical advice for cold or flu if you have a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. You should also seek medical advice if you have a very high temperature, an unusually severe headache, abdominal or chest pain.
People often say that they have the flu when really they are suffering from a cold. The symptoms are very similar, however, the flu tends to be more severe.
Discover the difference between cold and flu:
| Cold | Flu | |
| Symptom Appearance | Symptoms appear gradually over 1-2 days | Symptoms appear suddenly over the course of a few hours |
| Affected Areas | Mainly affects the nose and throat | The whole body is affected |
| Severity | Make you feel unwell but you can usually carry on as normal | Makes you feel unwell and exhausted, unable to carry on as normal |
If you are generally fit and healthy you should be able to manage the symptoms of a cold or flu without the need to see a doctor.
Although symptoms of cold and flu differ slightly, treatment options are very similar. There are many different medicines available over the counter to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu. The type of treatment you need will depend on your symptoms.
Browse our range of cold and flu products
As well as medication, non-drug treatments can be used alongside to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu.
Treatments that may help include:
Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. All colds and most coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses. This means that antibiotics will not work so your GP will not prescribe them. Antibiotics may also cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea and diarrhoea.
Antibiotics are important medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antibiotic and can become ‘antibiotic resistant’ so that the antibiotic no longer works. The more often we use an antibiotic, the more likely it is that bacteria will become resistant to it. Some bacteria that cause infections in hospitals, such as MRSA, are resistant to several antibiotics. So unnecessary use of antibiotics such as attempting to treat a cold will only help to increase antibiotic resistance.
Both colds and the flu are infectious. With a cold, you are infectious until all of your symptoms are gone. This can take around 1-2 weeks. With the flu, you are more likely to pass it on within the first 5 days of symptoms presenting.
They are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes. These germs can live on hands and surfaces for up to 24 hours.
To reduce the risk of spreading a cold or the flu:
When somebody has a cold, they can spread it from a few days before displaying symptoms until symptoms have disappeared completely.
To best ways to prevent yourself from catching a cold are:
To prevent yourself from catching the flu, you should also practice good hand hygiene and avoid sharing items with those that are ill. You can also get the flu vaccine if you are eligible. Find out if you should get the flu vaccine.
The best time to get the flu vaccine is in the autumn before the flu virus starts spreading. You can get the flu jab at certain pharmacies and at your GP surgery. Some people such as those who are over 50, pregnant or carers are able to get the flu vaccine on the NHS for free. You can also choose to pay for a private flu vaccine if you are not eligible for a free one.
Find out which of our pharmacies offer a seasonal flu vaccination service.
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