Influenza (flu) and the common cold are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Flu is caused by influenza viruses only, whereas the common cold can be caused by a number of different viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/general-information.html). Seasonal coronaviruses should not be confused with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html).

Because flu and the common cold have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly. Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have serious associated complications (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm). There are multiple respiratory viruses in circulation right now (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/t1104-update-respiratory-disease-circulation.html), so, your doctor may test you to determine which treatment is right for you. If you do get sick with flu, prescription flu antivirals can help treat your illness, and can make your illness milder and shorten the time you are sick.

The best way to protect yourself from is to get an annual flu vaccine. There are also everyday preventive actions (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm) you can take, like avoiding people who are sick, staying home when you are sick, covering your coughs and sneezes, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. You can also consider wearing a well-fitting mask which may help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. This might be especially useful in certain circumstances, for example, in household settings when someone is sick or in crowded community settings for people at higher risk when respiratory disease activity is high.