Differences between H1N1 flu symptoms and common cold

Influenza A is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by a virus, commonly accompanied by symptoms such as fever, cough, and runny nose. Sometimes abdominal pain and vomiting may also occur. The common cold is a general term for acute respiratory infections caused by various viruses, mainly characterized by fever, headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, and cough. The symptoms of both are quite similar; however, Influenza A is more contagious and typically presents with prominent systemic muscle aches, whereas systemic symptoms are rarely seen in the common cold.