The common cold and the flu are often confused for one another because they present similar symptoms. However, these are two distinct upper respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. 

Common Cold Virus Symptoms

The common cold is actually called an "acute respiratory tract infection" in medical parlance. It is caused by the rhinovirus, which is a member of the picornaviridae family. The symptoms of the common cold include nasal obstructions, rhinorrhea and sneezing. The onset of the common cold is slow and is rarely accompanied by a fever.

Influenza Virus or Flu Symptoms

Meanwhile, the influenza virus, more commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by the influenza virus from the orthomyxoviridae family. It is known to cause acute febrile illnesses which results in varying degrees of symptoms such as fever, fatigue, body aches, and dry cough.   They usually result from 1 of 3 basic types of the influenza virus - A, B or C.  They belong to the.  It commonly presents itself as a more severe illness as compared with the common cold, with symptoms such as a quicker onset of infection, fever, body malaise, body ache and dry cough. 

Why The Distinction is Important

Distinguishing common cold and flu symptoms from each other is important because it will determine the course of treatment that you are to take. Common cold symptoms, as discussed above, suggest a rhinoviral infection. Therefore, the illness is mild and self-limiting. The treatment of the common cold is focused on symptomatic relief and prevention of its spread.  Decongestants are prescribed for those who develop difficulty in breathing and are bothered by their runny noses.  Patients are also advised to rest and increase their oral fluid intake. Meanwhile, a person exhibiting symptoms of the flu will be prescribed an antiviral medication.  The most commonly prescribed antiviral is oseltamivir, otherwise known as Tamiflu.