Seasonal Flu Vs. Common Cold Symptoms

As Egypt moves into the end of winter, there will likely be more and more people experiencing cold and flu-like symptoms in the coming days and months.

The seasonal flu is very common all over the world. In Egypt, ten to 50 percent of the population gets the flu every year.

After you have the flu, you get immunity to fight the virus.

You will probably not get that particular virus again. However, new flu viruses appear every year. Even if you have the flu this year, you will not have immunity to next year's virus.

Here are answers to your questions about the difference between Common cold vs. Seasonal flu symptoms

What is the flu?

The flu, short for influenza, is a virus that passes easily from person to person. Every year, millions of Egyptian citizens miss work and school because of the seasonal flu. Seasonal flu exists worldwide. Usually the flu season is in winter months, but in warm climates, the flu occurs during the rainy season.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. These symptoms usually show up quickly, developing within three to six hours of exposure to the virus. With the flu, you may start the day feeling fine, only to end up feeling terrible a few hours later.

What's the difference between the flu and cold?

Both are respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.

Although the symptoms can be similar, flu symptoms are more dangerous and include a high fever and body aches.

Cold symptoms include a runny or blocked  nose and a cough. You may have slight fever with a cold, but in general, cold symptoms are middle and only last about seven days.

While the flu can last up to two weeks.

In general, winter is prime time for colds and flus.

Even though social distancing has seen a significant drop in flu-like presentations so far this year, that doesn't mean it's gone completely.

Amgad Elkholy, Medical epidemiologist of World Health Organization (WHO), said there will be other illnesses with respiratory symptoms going around.

"For those people who are exposed to COVID-19, they're going to get those very general symptoms and those symptoms are largely indistinguishable from people with the common cold or even people with influenza," he said.

"The thing that's most common is the common cold."

It's worth mentioning that many people get the flu every year.

How can you avoid getting the flu?

If someone in your family does get the flu, keep the person at home, disinfect, clean your home well, and limit close contact with that person whenever possible.