Cold and flu symptoms
Cold and flu symptoms
Colds and flu are caused by viruses that affect the upper respiratory tract. Customers may use the terms ‘cold’ and ‘flu’ interchangeably, so it is important that you recognise the symptoms of each. You can then establish if they have a cold or are suffering from flu, and can provide appropriate advice. The table below summarises the differences between the two conditions.1
Cold symptoms |
Flu symptoms |
| Symptoms appear gradually | Symptoms come on rapidly |
| Mildly raised temperature | Sudden high temperature |
| Symptoms mainly affect nose and throat | Affects whole body |
| Blocked or runny nose | Exhaustion |
| Sore throat | Sore throat |
| Headache | Headache |
| Aching muscles | Aching body |
| Cough | Dry cough |
| Sneezing | Trouble sleeping |
| Loss of taste and smell |
Loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea/stomach ache |
| Able to carry out usual daily activities | Unable to carry out usual day-to-day activities |
