A scratchy throat and a runny nose could mean a cold is starting, or that the flu has arrived. Is it a cold or the flu? The two share symptoms such as a cough, tiredness and a sore throat, but they are caused by different viruses, and the flu usually makes you feel much more unwell. This article compares the symptoms side by side, explains how long each tends to last and what helps at home, and covers when a vaccine or a doctor is the next step.
Key Takeaways
- Colds and the flu share some symptoms but are caused by different viruses.
- Fever, body aches and headache are common with the flu and rare or absent with a cold.
- Sneezing and a stuffy or runny nose point more towards a cold.
- Cold symptoms usually peak on day 3 or 4, and most people feel better within 7 to 10 days.
- There is no vaccine for colds, but a yearly flu vaccine protects against the flu.
Cold or flu? Symptom by symptom
Healthdirect’s cold or flu chart lines the two illnesses up like this:
- Pointing to the flu: fever, aches and pains, and headache are common with the flu but rare or absent with a cold; tiredness is also more usual with the flu
- Pointing to a cold: sneezing is common with a cold and less usual with the flu, while a blocked or runny nose or a scratchy throat turns up often with a cold but only sometimes with the flu
- Shared by both: a cough is common with either illness
Children with the flu can also have vomiting or diarrhoea, which is rare with a cold. If your symptoms sit mostly in the first group, treat it as the flu: stay home, rest and keep an eye on how you are going.
A cold rarely stops your week; the flu often does.
Why the flu is a different illness
Colds are very common and can be caused by any one of about 200 viruses. The flu is caused by influenza viruses, and NSW Health notes that two main types, influenza A and B, infect people, with several strains circulating each season. Because the strains change, the flu vaccine is updated every year.
Most people get over the flu by themselves. For some people, including young children and those with certain medical conditions, it can be serious.
Come in for a flu vaccine or a chat about your symptoms; no booking is required.
How long each one lasts
Cold symptoms are usually mild. They peak around day 3 or 4, and most people feel better within 7 to 10 days, according to healthdirect’s cold advice. A cough can hang on a little longer, but one that persists well beyond that is worth showing to a doctor.
The flu varies more from person to person: some people recover within a few days, while others are unwell for a week or more. Symptoms that get worse instead of better are a reason to see a GP.
Looking after yourself at home
Most colds and many cases of the flu get better with time and simple care:
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids
- Use saline nose drops or spray for a blocked nose
- Take pain and fever relief as directed on the label
- Ask the pharmacist before combining cold and flu products, as many already contain paracetamol
For a sore throat, our guide to sore throat relief has more ideas, and our winter medicine cabinet article lists what to keep at home.
When it is more than a cold
With either illness, any difficulty breathing is an emergency: call triple zero (000). See a doctor if symptoms are getting worse, if you are short of breath, dehydrated or confused, or if you are at higher risk of complications and think you have the flu. Antiviral medicines for the flu are prescribed by a doctor and help most when started early, within 48 hours. Our article on when to see a GP sets out the warning signs in full.
Off work for a few days? Ask the pharmacist about a work absence certificate, which needs no GP appointment.
Flu vaccination: when and where
When is flu season?
In most parts of Australia, flu season peaks from June to September. Your protection peaks in the three to four months after vaccination, so many people aim for April or May, but it is never too late to have it, especially before travel. Healthdirect also notes that you can have a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine at the same time, and the pharmacy gives both.
Getting your flu shot
In Newport, a pharmacist immuniser at Your Community Pharmacy gives the flu vaccine as part of the walk-in vaccinations service, so there is no appointment to make. You do not need a script either, as our prescription guide explains. Some people can have it free under the National Immunisation Program, and others pay a fee; check your eligibility with the pharmacist. Our article on flu shot side effects covers the day or two afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
No. The flu vaccines given by injection in Australia are inactivated, so they cannot cause the flu. A sore arm or mild aches afterwards are a sign of your immune system responding.
Do antibiotics help a cold?
No. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, and colds and the flu are both caused by viruses.
Do I need to book?
No. Pharmacist immunisers vaccinate walk-in customers whenever the pharmacy is open. Have photo ID with you, plus your Medicare card (if you have one) and your vaccination history.
Can young children have a flu shot at the pharmacy?
NSW pharmacists can give the flu vaccine to children from age 2. Children under 2 need a GP or an immunisation clinic instead.
Telling a cold from the flu
A cold usually centres on a stuffy nose, sneezing and a sore throat, while the flu is more likely to bring fever, aches and headache. Working out if you have a cold or the flu tells you how much rest to plan, who to keep away from and when to watch for warning signs. Our FAQs page covers opening hours, delivery and more.
Need a flu vaccine or advice on cold and flu relief? Come in to Your Community Pharmacy on Kalinya St, Newport.