Common cold or flu? Symptoms, home care and when to see a doctor

A runny nose, sore throat and cough are common complaints. Often the cause is a cold or flu. Both are caused by viruses, and most people get better without medical treatment. Flu can sometimes become serious, though. It helps to know the difference between the two and when to get medical help.

What is the difference between a cold and flu?

The common cold is a mild infection of the nose and throat. Many different viruses can cause it. Rhinoviruses are the most common. Flu (influenza) is caused only by influenza viruses. It affects more than just your nose and throat, and it is usually more severe.

The two share many symptoms. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it can be difficult, or even impossible, to tell them apart from symptoms alone. Special tests can show whether a person has flu. Still, a few patterns can help:

Feature	Common cold	Flu
How it starts	Gradually, over 1 to 3 days	Suddenly, often within a few hours
Fever	Rare, or mild	Common, often high; usually lasts 3 to 4 days
Body aches and chills	Slight aches; chills are uncommon	Aches are common and often severe; chills are fairly common
Tiredness and weakness	Sometimes	Usual; you may be too unwell to carry on as normal
Sneezing, blocked or runny nose	Common	Sometimes
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes
Headache	Rare	Common
Cough and chest discomfort	Mild to moderate	Common; can be severe

A simple rule from the UK’s NHS: a cold makes you feel unwell, but you can usually carry on as normal. Flu makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to do your normal activities.

How long do they last?

Cold: CDC says colds usually last less than a week. A runny nose or cough can last up to 10 to 14 days.
Flu: the World Health Organization (WHO) says symptoms start 1 to 4 days after infection. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week. The cough can be severe and can last two weeks or more.

Children with flu may also have ear pain, sore eyes or swollen glands, and they may seem less active. Vomiting and diarrhoea are more common in children than in adults.

Flu season in Bangladesh

Colds can happen at any time of year. Flu in Bangladesh follows a seasonal pattern. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) says the flu season runs from April to September, during the monsoon. IEDCR bases this on its national influenza surveillance data, from when the surveillance began up to 2025. IEDCR also reports that in 2023 to 2025, more flu than usual was found in October. Flu can still occur in other months.

Could it be something else?

Fever with body aches is not always flu. Dengue is another possible cause. WHO lists high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and rash as possible dengue symptoms. Other viruses, including the COVID-19 virus and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), can also cause symptoms like a cold or flu. If you have a high fever, do not assume it is just flu. See a doctor, who can decide whether you need tests.

Home care for a cold or flu

Most people with a cold or mild flu recover on their own. The NHS and WHO suggest:

Rest. Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people while you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.
Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, to avoid dehydration.
Eat healthy food. It is common for small children to lose their appetite for a few days.
Soothe a sore throat with a hot lemon and honey drink. Adults can also gargle with salt water, but this is not suitable for children. Do not give honey to babies under one year old.
Ease a blocked nose by breathing in steam, for example by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running. Take care with hot water around children.

About medicines

There is no cure for a cold. It should get better on its own. Medicines bought from a pharmacy may ease symptoms for a short time. CDC says over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children under 6 years old, because they can cause serious side effects. Read labels carefully, and ask a doctor or pharmacist before giving any medicine to a child. Tell them about any other medicines the person already takes.

Antibiotics do not work against colds or flu, because these are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. They will not help you feel better from a cold, and they can cause side effects. Do not ask for antibiotics for a simple cold.

For some people with flu, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine, which acts against the flu virus itself. WHO says people at high risk or with severe symptoms should be treated with antivirals as soon as possible. CDC says these medicines work best when started very soon after symptoms begin. Only a doctor can decide whether you need one, so people at higher risk should contact a doctor early.

Who is at higher risk from flu?

WHO and the NHS say these groups are more likely to become seriously ill:

Pregnant women and women who have recently given birth
Children under 5 years
Older people (65 and over)
People with long-term conditions such as diabetes or heart, lung, kidney or liver disease
People with a weakened immune system, for example during chemotherapy or with HIV

If you or a family member is in one of these groups and has flu symptoms, speak to a doctor promptly. Do not wait to see whether things get worse.

Warning signs: get urgent medical care

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away if you notice any of these signs. They come from CDC and NHS guidance. If you can, ask someone else to take you instead of driving yourself.

In adults

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, such as gasping, choking or being unable to get words out
Sudden chest pain, or pain or pressure in the chest or belly that does not go away
Coughing up blood
Confusion, persistent dizziness, or being hard to wake
Seizures (fits)
Not passing urine
Severe muscle pain, severe weakness or unsteadiness
Fever or cough that gets better and then comes back or gets worse
A long-term illness getting worse

In children

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Ribs pulling in with each breath
Bluish lips or face
Chest pain
Severe muscle pain (for example, the child refuses to walk)
Signs of dehydration: no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, or no tears when crying
Not alert or not interacting when awake
Seizures
Fever above 40°C (104°F) that does not come down with fever-reducing medicine
Any fever in a baby younger than 12 weeks

If dengue is possible, these signs of severe dengue also need immediate care, as WHO advises: severe belly pain, vomiting that does not stop, fast breathing, bleeding gums or nose, blood in vomit or stool, being very thirsty, pale and cold skin, restlessness or weakness. These signs often come after the fever has gone away.

When to see a doctor (non-urgent)

Book an appointment with a doctor if:

A high temperature lasts more than 3 days
Your symptoms keep getting worse
Cold symptoms have not improved after 10 days
A cough lasts more than 3 weeks
You are worried about your child’s symptoms

If you are in a higher-risk group and have flu symptoms, do not wait for a routine appointment. Contact a doctor promptly.

For advice at any hour, you can call the government health call centre Shasthyo Batayon on 16263. It runs 24 hours a day under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and you can get advice from doctors over the phone.

Which doctor should you see?

General physician or medicine specialist: the first doctor to see for adults with cold or flu symptoms, fever, or symptoms that are not getting better.
Paediatrician (child specialist): for babies and children, especially those under 5.
Chest specialist (pulmonologist or respiratory medicine specialist): for breathing problems, a cough lasting more than 3 weeks, or asthma or COPD (a long-term lung disease) that is getting worse.
ENT specialist (ear, nose and throat): for ear pain, sinus pain or a blocked nose that does not settle after a cold.
Gynaecologist or obstetrician: pregnant women with flu symptoms should also tell their pregnancy doctor.
Hospital emergency department: for any of the warning signs listed above.

How to protect yourself and others

Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then wash your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes and nose.
Do not share cups, towels or children’s toys with someone who is ill.
Stay home while you are unwell, especially with a high temperature.

WHO says vaccination is the best way to prevent flu, and yearly vaccination is recommended because protection fades over time. WHO says yearly vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk. Ask your doctor whether a flu vaccine is right for you.

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from a doctor.

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Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. It was written by AI from the sources above. It did not pass the automatic check, and an administrator chose to publish it; no doctor or editor has reviewed it. For a diagnosis or treatment, see a registered doctor.