Many people confuse the two by calling a bad cold “the flu,” or vice versa, but they are actually quite different. Colds are minor infections of the nose and throat caused by hundreds of different viruses. The flu is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus.

Myth: Antibiotics are the only way to cure the common cold.
Fact: Because antibiotics treat bacterial infections and colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics will not treat a cold. Additionally, overuse of antibiotics has led to increasingly resistant bacteria, which means when you do have a bacterial infection; antibiotics may not be able to treat it.

  • COMMON COLD

    • Fever uncommon
    • Headache uncommon
    • Mild fatigue, weakness
    • Sneezing, stuffy nose common
    • Mid-to-moderate cough
    • Sore throat common
    • Daily hand washing can prevent
    • Illness can be treated with Cold-EEZE® at first sign of symptoms

  • INFLUENZA

    • Sudden fever, often lasts 3+ days
    • Headache prominent
    • Extreme fatigue, weakness can last weeks
    • Sneezing, stuffy nose sometimes occur
    • Cough common, can become severe
    • Sore throat sometimes occurs
    • Vaccination can prevent
    • Illness can be treated with antiviral medicines at first sign of symptoms

Do your symptoms indicate that you are suffering from a cold?
Learn what you should do. Treating A Cold.