What are the differences between influenza A and the common cold?
Disease description:
Recently, the weather has been changing drastically, and I have been feeling unwell with symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat. However, I am unsure whether I have a common cold or influenza (flu), as the symptoms of these two illnesses seem somewhat similar. Therefore, I would like to understand what are the differences between influenza and the common cold?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Ren Yi
Influenza A and the common cold are both viral respiratory diseases, but certain differences exist, including the causative pathogens, clinical symptoms, and severity of illness.
1. Different causative pathogens: Influenza A is generally caused by infection with Influenza A virus, whereas the common cold can be caused by various viruses, including rhinovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, human metapneumovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.
2. Different clinical symptoms: Most individuals with Influenza A develop high fever, with body temperature rapidly rising above 38°C, even exceeding 40°C. Patients often experience significant headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. The common cold primarily presents with upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, and cough, and fever is generally mild.
3. Different severity of illness: Influenza A is more severe than the common cold and is more likely to cause complications such as pneumonia, viral myocarditis, and other lung inflammations. The common cold is usually mild and typically improves within 3 to 5 days.
In daily life, attention should be paid to personal hygiene, frequent handwashing, wearing masks, and avoiding close contact with others to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
