Most of us have a stuffy nose and start coughing and sneezing when we can’t be comfortable with whatever we wear from winter to spring or from spring to winter. Get well soon, it means we have a cold. So most likely we have a cold, maybe we have the flu. If you are often confused about what is the difference between a cold and the flu, don’t worry, you are never alone.
Basically, cold and flu are a type of respiratory disease caused by viruses. However, the virus or viruses that cause these two diseases are different. So much so that, due to the virus that causes the disease, it is possible to get over one of them lighter and sleep on a duvet in the other. Don’t worry, it will be good if you drink something hot in both, but still, let’s take a closer look at what a cold is, how it came out, and see what’s different from the flu.
Let’s start with a basic definition; What is cold?
The flu, also known as the common cold, is a type of respiratory illness. It affects our nose and throat. Most of the time it is considered harmless and it is normal for us to experience it several times a year. The cold is a viral disease, that is, it is transmitted to us through the virus. Of course, it is considered a contagious disease because it can infect others as well as us.
What are the symptoms of gradual flu?
- It is the incubation stage for 1 – 3 days after exposure to the cold virus and there are no symptoms in general.
- The first symptoms are seen within 1-3 days, which varies according to the duration of the incubation phase. These are sore throat, stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, and headache and body aches.
- For 3 – 10 days, flu symptoms last and there may be changes in mucus color.
- In some people, symptoms such as a cough can last longer than 10 days, but recovery is almost complete.
Although the symptoms and stages of the cold vary from person to person, it generally proceeds this way. It is normal for a cold to last 7 to 10 days. Some symptoms, such as a cough, may persist for much longer, but as long as they are not accompanied by other symptoms, there is no need to worry.
Okay, so how is the cold different from the flu?
The flu symptoms and flu symptoms, which we have explained step by step above, show themselves in the same way almost until the day of. Because both are respiratory diseases that result from viruses. So how is the cold different from the flu?
Namely, the cause of the disease we call the flu is the influenza virus. There is no other virus known to cause the flu. The cause of the common cold is rhinovirus, picornavirus, seasonal coronavirus and more. Even a physician cannot understand the difference between flu and cold unless he can easily test and detect the virus.
Of course, the most visible difference between them is the intensity of the symptoms. When you have the flu, you experience all the symptoms much more intensely. The flu virus can then cause bacterial infections, pneumonia, and even hospitalization. In colds, you blow your nose for a week at most and cough a little.
When do colds and flu become contagious?
Although cold is a mild disease, its contagiousness is quite high. It is possible to get a cold from the incubation period, when the symptoms do not appear, until the second week, when the symptoms begin to disappear. The most intense contagion period is the 2-3 day period when the symptoms are most intense.
The contagiousness of the flu is similar to the common cold. You can be infected with the flu virus during the incubation period, when symptoms do not appear, and for up to a week after symptoms appear. Children and people with compromised immune systems are the number one risk group for the flu virus.
Are there types of colds that we can take different precautions for?
Here we have to correct a common misconception. Seasonal allergies, dust allergy, pollen allergy, sun allergy and similar allergic reactions that occur in the spring months in many people are considered to be a type of flu because they show very similar symptoms to the common cold, but this is not true.
As we explained above, the common cold is a respiratory disease transmitted by viruses. In other words, even if the symptoms of an allergic reaction look like a cold, they are not actually a cold. Of course, you may have had a cold when your allergy increased, but you wouldn’t get a cold because of pollen, you would only have an allergic reaction.
When did the flu first appear, what was done to treat it?
If you think that diseases such as colds and flu are the diseases of the sensitive people of the new era, you are wrong because the oldest source we have of the cold is an Egyptian papyrus named Ebers, written on medicine dating back to the 16th century BC. In other words, as humanity, we have been suffering from colds for thousands of years.
The first scientific studies on the common cold were initiated by the Medical Research Council in England in 1946. In 1956, the council’s Colds Unit discovered the rhinovirus. In the 1970s, it was discovered that it was a protein that would provide protection against the virus in its incubation period. Shortly before closing, this unit also developed zinc gluconate lozenge therapy.
Until 2009, scientists in many different parts of the world studied the effect of antivirals on cold viruses, but they could not get a tangible clear result. Many studies that may be effective against picornaviruses are still in progress. The most effective is a double-stranded RNA-activated antiviral therapy, but it is still in development.
Although not certain, there have been cases where taking zinc at the first appearance of cold symptoms shortened the duration of illness. The use of garlic and echinacea, which has no scientific evidence, is also very common in the case of colds. Even if it does not have a direct effect on the cold, the use of vitamins C and D is also recommended because it strengthens the immune system.
What is good for the cold, how does it go?
- Get lots of rest and sleep.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- For hot teas.
- You can gargle with salt water.
- You can inhale salt water into your nose.
- You can consume vitamin C.
These are some of the treatment methods that you can apply on your own when you have a cold in general. The important thing is to rest and remove the disturbing symptoms of the disease and keep your body strong.
When should I go to the doctor?
- If your symptoms are getting worse and don’t seem to get better
- If your fever is above 38.5 for more than three days
- If your fever has decreased but has increased again
- If you are experiencing shortness of breath
- If you are wheezing
- If you have an unusual throat, head or sinus pain
If the symptoms of your common cold have started to become abnormal and you feel the above symptoms, it is recommended that you go to the nearest health institution. In babies and children, these symptoms should be taken very seriously and in case of doubt, a doctor should be consulted without waiting.
Do not expect to be sick; Here are the precautions you can take to avoid a cold
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Rinse your mouth and clear your nose.
- Use tissue when coughing and blowing your nose, then throw it away.
- Do not share glasses, cutlery, etc. with other people.
- Stay away from people you know are sick.
- Eat healthy.
- Exercise regularly.
- Do not smoke.
- Sleep regularly.
- Keep your immune system strong.
We answered questions such as what is the common cold that plagues us several times a year, how it came about, and what is the difference from the flu. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Do not forget that you should get the most accurate and specific information about cold and flu from a specialist physician, as in all health issues.
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