Cold vs Flu: Symptoms, Treatment, Home Care and When to See a Doctor

Updated: August 2026

A blocked or runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache and tiredness can make it difficult to know whether you have a common cold or influenza, commonly called flu. The two illnesses share several symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses and can behave quite differently.

A cold is usually mild and develops gradually. Flu often begins more suddenly and may cause fever, significant tiredness, headache, chills and stronger muscle or body aches.

For most otherwise healthy people, both illnesses improve without specific medical treatment. The important questions are whether your symptoms could be flu or another infection, whether you are at increased risk of complications, and whether there are warning signs that need medical attention.

This guide explains how to tell cold and flu apart, what actually helps, what does not cure them, and when you should seek medical care.

What Is the Common Cold?

The common cold is a viral infection affecting the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat.

It is not caused by one single virus. Rhinoviruses are among the most common causes, but several other respiratory viruses can produce cold symptoms.

A typical cold may cause a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild cough and general discomfort. Fever can occur, especially in children, but is less characteristic of a cold than of influenza.

Most colds resolve on their own.

There is no medicine that eliminates the viruses responsible for the ordinary common cold once someone becomes infected. Treatment therefore focuses mainly on making symptoms more manageable while the immune system clears the infection.

What Is Influenza?

Influenza is a contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses.

Although many people use the word "flu" for almost any illness involving fever, weakness or body aches, true influenza is a specific viral infection.

Flu can range from mild illness to severe disease. Some people develop complications such as pneumonia, and the risk is greater among young children, older adults, pregnant women and people living with certain chronic medical conditions.

Prescription antiviral medicines can be used to treat influenza in appropriate patients, especially when treatment begins early.

Cold vs Flu: What Is the Difference?

Symptoms alone cannot always distinguish influenza from a cold, but their typical patterns provide useful clues.

Feature	Common cold	Influenza
Beginning of illness	Usually gradual	Often sudden
Fever	Less common	Common
Chills	Uncommon	More common
Muscle/body aches	Usually mild	Common and may be severe
Headache	Less common	Common
Fatigue	Usually mild to moderate	Often prominent
Runny/stuffy nose	Very common	Can occur
Sneezing	Common	Less common
Sore throat	Common	Can occur
Cough	Usually mild to moderate	Common and may be severe
Serious complications	Uncommon	More likely

These are patterns rather than absolute rules. Someone with influenza may not develop a fever, while a person with another respiratory infection may experience symptoms that resemble flu.

Testing may sometimes be needed to determine the cause.

Cold, Flu, COVID-19 or Malaria?

This question is particularly important in Nigeria because fever, headache, weakness and body aches are not specific to influenza.

COVID-19 and other respiratory infections may produce symptoms similar to flu. Malaria can also cause fever, chills, headache, tiredness and body aches.

Do not automatically assume that every fever is malaria, and do not automatically assume that fever accompanied by respiratory symptoms is influenza.

When malaria is suspected, a malaria rapid diagnostic test or microscopy should ideally confirm the infection before antimalarial treatment is started.

Testing for influenza or COVID-19 may also be appropriate depending on symptoms, exposure, risk factors and the availability of testing.

Correct diagnosis matters because antibiotics, antimalarial medicines and influenza antivirals treat very different problems.

How Long Do Cold and Flu Symptoms Last?

Most uncomplicated colds gradually improve without specific treatment.

Some symptoms, particularly cough or nasal symptoms, can continue after a person otherwise feels better.

Influenza may also resolve within several days, although tiredness and cough can sometimes last longer.

You should be assessed by a healthcare professional if symptoms persist without improvement, become unusually severe, or improve and then return or become worse.

A fever lasting more than several days also deserves medical attention.

What Should You Do at Home?

For a mild cold or uncomplicated flu, supportive care is often enough.

Rest is useful, particularly when fever, fatigue or body aches are present. Drink enough water and other fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration. Warm drinks, soups and other foods that are comfortable to eat may also help while you recover.

You do not need a special "cold and flu diet." The main goal is adequate fluid intake and sufficient nutrition according to what you can tolerate.

People who are unwell with a respiratory infection should also reduce unnecessary close contact with others, especially people who may be vulnerable to serious illness.

Cover coughs and sneezes, wash your hands regularly, improve ventilation where practical and avoid sharing items that may be contaminated with respiratory secretions.

Medicines for Fever, Headache and Body Aches

Medicines such as paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, can help reduce fever, headache and body aches.

Ibuprofen can also relieve pain and fever in people for whom it is appropriate.

These medicines reduce symptoms. They do not kill cold or influenza viruses.

Always follow the recommended dose on the medicine label or advice from a healthcare professional. Be especially careful with combination "cold and flu" medicines because some already contain paracetamol or another pain reliever.

Taking a separate paracetamol product at the same time can accidentally result in too much medication.

Children should be given medicines appropriate for their age and weight. Aspirin should generally not be given to children or teenagers with a suspected viral illness unless specifically instructed by a healthcare professional because of the association with Reye syndrome.

Pregnant people, people with kidney disease, stomach ulcers, certain heart conditions or those taking other medicines should speak with a healthcare professional or pharmacist before using medicines such as ibuprofen.

What Can Help a Blocked Nose?

A saline nasal spray or saline drops may help relieve nasal congestion.

A clean humidifier or cool-mist vaporiser may also make dry nasal passages more comfortable.

Some adults use nasal or oral decongestants. These medicines are not suitable for everyone, and nasal decongestant sprays should not be used longer than directed because excessive use can make congestion worse.

People with conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, prostate problems, thyroid disorders or those who are pregnant should ask a healthcare professional or pharmacist before using certain decongestants.

Young children should not automatically be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. Age restrictions and recommendations differ between products, so check the label and seek professional advice.

Honey for Cough: Does It Help?

Honey can help soothe cough in adults and children who are at least one year old.

It can be taken alone or added to a warm drink.

However, never give honey to a child younger than 12 months because it can expose an infant to bacteria that may cause infant botulism.

Honey may make a cough more comfortable, but it does not cure influenza or eliminate the virus causing a cold.

What About Warm Soup?

Soup is perfectly reasonable when you are ill.

Warm soup can provide fluid, calories and nutrients and may temporarily make throat or nasal symptoms feel more comfortable.

Chicken soup should therefore be viewed as supportive food rather than an antiviral treatment.

You do not need a particular type of soup to recover from a cold or influenza.

Should You Inhale Steam?

The traditional method of placing the face over a bowl of boiling or very hot water should be avoided.

There is no strong evidence that steam inhalation speeds recovery from a cold, and bowls of hot water can cause serious scalds and burns, particularly in children.

A warm shower may feel comfortable, and a cool-mist humidifier may help with dry air, but deliberately inhaling steam from boiling water is unnecessary.

Adding eucalyptus, rosemary or other essential oils does not turn steam into a treatment for influenza.

Does Vitamin C Cure a Cold?

Vitamin C is essential for normal health and immune function, and fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C are part of a healthy diet.

That does not mean large amounts of vitamin C cure respiratory infections.

Research suggests that regularly taking vitamin C may slightly reduce the duration or severity of colds in some people. For most people, however, beginning vitamin C supplementation after cold symptoms have already started has not consistently been shown to shorten the illness.

Vitamin C should therefore not be promoted as a cure for either a cold or influenza.

Very high supplement doses can also cause adverse effects such as diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal cramps.

Can Garlic Cure Cold or Flu?

Garlic contains biologically active compounds and can be part of a healthy diet.

However, laboratory evidence showing antimicrobial activity is not the same as evidence that eating garlic cures a viral respiratory infection in humans.

There is not enough good clinical evidence to recommend garlic as a treatment for influenza or as a reliable cure for the common cold.

If you enjoy garlic in food while you are ill, there is generally no reason to avoid it. Just do not use it as a substitute for appropriate medical care.

What About Ginger?

Ginger can make a warm drink pleasant and may help some people with nausea or throat discomfort.

It should not, however, be described as a scientifically proven cure for influenza or the common cold.

Using ginger as food or a comforting drink is different from claiming that it eliminates respiratory viruses.

Do Echinacea and Other Herbal Remedies Work?

Evidence on Echinacea for preventing or treating the common cold has been inconsistent.

Different studies have used different species, plant parts, extracts and doses, making comparisons difficult. Overall evidence has not established Echinacea as a reliable treatment that cures the common cold.

Herbal products can also interact with medicines or cause adverse effects.

"Natural" does not automatically mean effective or risk-free.

People who are pregnant, taking prescription medicines or living with chronic health conditions should be especially careful about using concentrated herbal products without professional advice.

Do Probiotics Work Like Antibiotics?

No.

Probiotics are microorganisms found in certain foods and supplements. They are not antibiotic medicines and should not be described as functioning like antibiotics inside the body.

Research continues into how the gut microbiome and probiotics may influence immunity, but probiotics are not an established treatment for influenza.

Eating yoghurt or other probiotic-containing foods can form part of a normal diet, but they should not replace appropriate treatment.

Do Antibiotics Treat Cold or Flu?

No.

Antibiotics kill or inhibit bacteria. The common cold and influenza are caused by viruses.

Taking an antibiotic for an uncomplicated viral cold or influenza will not make the virus disappear faster.

Unnecessary antibiotic use can also cause side effects and contributes to antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria become increasingly difficult to treat.

Occasionally, a bacterial infection such as bacterial pneumonia can occur during or after a viral respiratory infection. A healthcare professional may prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial infection is diagnosed or strongly suspected.

That is different from using antibiotics routinely for every cough, cold or fever.

What About Flu Antiviral Medicines?

Unlike the common cold, influenza has specific prescription antiviral medicines.

These medicines can make influenza milder and shorten the duration of illness. They work best when started early, ideally within the first two days after symptoms begin.

Early treatment is particularly important for people at increased risk of serious influenza complications and for people who are severely ill or hospitalised.

Starting treatment later may still benefit some high-risk or seriously ill patients, so a person should not assume that treatment is pointless simply because more than 48 hours have passed.

Antiviral medicines should be prescribed by an appropriate healthcare professional. They are not the same as antibiotics.

Who Is at Higher Risk of Severe Flu?

Some people are more likely to develop serious complications from influenza.

This includes young children, particularly those younger than two years, adults aged 65 years and older, pregnant people and people with certain chronic medical conditions.

Conditions that may increase risk include asthma and other chronic lung diseases, heart disease, diabetes and conditions or treatments that weaken the immune system.

Someone in a higher-risk group should contact a healthcare professional early when influenza is suspected, even when the illness initially appears mild, because antiviral treatment may be most useful when started promptly.

When Should You Seek Medical Care?

Contact a healthcare professional if symptoms are severe, concerning or not improving as expected.

Medical assessment is particularly important when fever lasts more than several days, symptoms continue for more than about 10 days without improvement, dehydration develops, a chronic health problem becomes worse, or fever and cough initially improve and then return or worsen.

High-risk patients should seek advice earlier.

Emergency Warning Signs

Seek urgent medical attention for difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent chest or abdominal pain or pressure, severe weakness, confusion, seizures, inability to stay awake, severe dehydration or markedly reduced urination.

A person whose fever or cough improves and then returns significantly worse should also be assessed.

Children require particular attention. Fast or difficult breathing, bluish lips or face, ribs pulling inward while breathing, poor responsiveness, seizures or signs of severe dehydration require urgent medical attention.

Any fever in a baby younger than 12 weeks should be assessed promptly.

This is not an exhaustive list. Any severe or rapidly worsening symptom deserves medical attention.

Can Cold and Flu Be Prevented?

There is no perfect way to prevent every respiratory infection, but risk can be reduced.

Good hand hygiene, avoiding unnecessary close contact when ill, covering coughs and sneezes and improving indoor ventilation can reduce respiratory-virus transmission.

Influenza vaccination is another important preventive measure. Influenza viruses change over time, so flu vaccines are updated periodically.

Vaccination is particularly important for people at increased risk of severe influenza and for healthcare workers where vaccination is available and recommended.

A healthcare professional can advise whether influenza vaccination is appropriate and available in your location.

Cold and Flu Myths: What Actually Works?

A useful way to think about home care is to separate symptom relief from treatment of the infection.

Warm fluids, soup, honey for people aged one year and above, rest, adequate hydration, saline nasal products and appropriate fever or pain medicines can make an illness easier to tolerate.

They do not necessarily eliminate the virus.

Garlic, ginger, lemon drinks, Echinacea, probiotics, essential oils and large doses of vitamin C should not be presented as proven cures for influenza or the common cold.

Steam inhalation over boiling water should particularly be avoided because of the risk of burns.

Good health information should make this distinction clear. Feeling better after using a remedy does not necessarily mean that the remedy killed the virus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have flu without a fever?

Yes. Fever is common with influenza, but not everyone with flu develops a measurable fever.

Is a runny nose more likely to be a cold or flu?

A runny or blocked nose is particularly common with the common cold, although it can also occur with influenza and other respiratory infections.

Do I need antibiotics for a severe cold?

Not simply because symptoms feel severe. Antibiotics do not treat the viruses responsible for ordinary colds. A healthcare professional should determine whether there is evidence of a secondary bacterial infection.

Should I automatically take malaria medicine when I have fever in Nigeria?

No. Fever has many possible causes. When malaria is suspected, diagnostic testing with an RDT or microscopy should be performed where available before treatment. A negative malaria result should prompt consideration of other causes of fever.

Is lemon and honey good for flu?

A warm lemon-and-honey drink may soothe the throat or cough and contribute to fluid intake. It does not cure influenza. Honey must never be given to a baby younger than one year.

Can I use steam to clear my nose?

Avoid placing your face over a bowl of boiling water because it can cause serious burns. Safer options include saline nasal products, adequate fluids and a properly maintained cool-mist humidifier.

When should I contact a doctor about suspected flu?

Seek advice early if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, caring for a very young child, have a chronic health condition, have a weakened immune system or are becoming seriously ill. Early assessment matters because influenza antiviral medicines are most effective when started promptly.

The Bottom Line

The common cold and influenza share symptoms, but they are not the same illness.

A cold is usually milder and develops gradually. Influenza often begins suddenly and is more likely to produce fever, marked tiredness, headache and significant body aches.

Most mild cases can be managed with rest, adequate fluids and appropriate symptom relief. Honey can help cough in people older than one year, and saline products may help nasal symptoms.

Antibiotics do not treat cold or flu viruses. Garlic, ginger, Echinacea, probiotics, essential oils, steam inhalation and vitamin C should not be promoted as cures.

If influenza is suspected in someone at high risk of complications, early medical advice is important because prescription antiviral treatment may be beneficial.

And in Nigeria, fever should not automatically be labelled as malaria or flu. Testing and proper clinical assessment help ensure that the right illness receives the right treatment.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cold Versus Flu.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Signs and Symptoms of Flu.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Manage Common Cold.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Treating Flu with Antiviral Drugs.

World Health Organization (WHO). Malaria: Diagnostic Testing and Case Management.

National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases.

Cochrane. Echinacea for Preventing and Treating the Common Cold.

NHS / British Burn Association. Steam Inhalation and Burn Risk.