Do I have the flu or a cold ? Many times it is difficult for the patient to distinguish if the discomfort he feels is caused by a flu process or a simple cold.
Both infectious processes have in common that they are caused by viruses , which are one of the major causes of absenteeism from work and school, and which cause more medical consultations than any other disease. It is estimated that each Spaniard suffers an average of 2.1 colds a year and that the flu affects more than 1.5 million patients. The latter is caused by a gang of viruses that belongs to the Orthomyxovirus family, while behind colds , also called colds , are rhinoviruses or coronaviruses.
From the symptomatic point of view, the main difference between the two infections is that while the catarrhal picture does not usually cause high fever or general malaise, the flu process usually appears suddenly with headache , fever, myalgia and weakness. Muscle pain is, surely, the most reliable indication that we are having the flu.
In the case of colds , the first symptoms are usually a tickle in the throat, a stuffy or runny nose, and sneezing, but it does not start as abruptly as the flu .
