How can I tell the difference between the two?

I think the difference is in the symptoms.

A cold just causes a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, mild fever and tiredness, lasting two to four days.

Flu is more severe with a high fever (usually 39ºC or above), chills, headache, intense muscle pains, exhaustion, loss of appetite, cough and sometimes a blocked nose and sore throat. It may last a week or more, and possible complications include pneumonia.

While a common cold, including chest cold and head cold, can be caused by more than 200 viruses, seasonal flu is caused by either influenza A or B viruses. Cold and flu remedies can usually ease symptoms.

Giving you a brief on both the cold and Flu here, so you can see the differences yourself.
Cold :
The common cold is centered in the nose.
The three most frequent symptoms of a cold are nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and runny nose.
Throat irritation is often involved (but not with a red throat).
Adults and older children with colds generally have minimal or no fever. Infants and toddlers often run a fever in the 100 to 102 degree range.
Depending on which virus is the culprit, the virus might also produce a headache, cough, postnasal drip, burning eyes, muscle aches, or a decreased appetite.
Within one to three days, the nasal secretions usually become thicker and perhaps yellow or green -- this is a normal part of the common cold and not a reason for antibiotics.


Flu
With the flu, you are sick all over.
Classically, the flu begins abruptly, with a fever in the 102 to 106 degree range (with adults on the lower end of the spectrum), a flushed face, body aches, and marked lack of energy.
Some people have other systemic symptoms such as dizziness or vomiting.
Somewhere between day 2 and day 4 of the illness, the "whole body" symptoms begin to subside, and respiratory symptoms begin to increase.
The virus can settle anywhere in the respiratory tract, producing symptoms of a cold, croup, sore throat, bronchiolitis, ear infection, and/or pneumonia.
The most prominent of the respiratory symptoms is usually a dry, hacking cough.
Most people also develop a sore (red) throat and a headache.
Nasal discharge and sneezing are not uncommon.

The main differece seems to be that with the flu you have a high fever, bit it is very rare to have a fever at all with a cold.

sandra09 - 23 August 2008 09:48 PM

With the flu, you are sick all over.

I think this is probably the best way to tell the difference. Well put.

Colds usually affects the nose and head area. Sometimes you cannot breathe correctly because 1 passage of your nose is clogged by mucus. We also call this commonly as runny nose. For flu this is usually you feel so cold but your body is hot. You will get jont aches sometimes back pains as well.

To avoid flu or colds. Take a rest from stressful jobs and have a vaccine or flu shots.

For having a flu shots dos this mean you wont get affected anymore? how often do you have a flu shots?

Yes once you started to have flue shots you to do it at least 6months to 1 year. Because if you do not take another flu shots it might lower your immune system from influenza.

Fle are viruses that usually grow in our body infecting and attacking our lungs. Cold are form of just mild viruses attcks the nose eys ears and throat.

The post here are really the differece of flue and colds and theses are ways in treating them. For a mild case of the cold or flu, it's not always necessary to take medication; do get lots of rest. Increase your fluid intake (only water, tea, and natural juices). Eat a lot of fruits and salads, and absolutely avoid junk/fried food.

Antibiotics are for bacterial infection. Colds and Flus are viral infections. Over the counter remedies like Benedryl or NyQuil help the symptoms, but they make you sleepy. You can take aspirin or Tylenol if you have a fever or muscle aches. Vicks vapor rub on your chest helps your chest congestion. Hot steamy shower help too. An a vaporizer add humidity to the air to help make breathing easier.
Drinks lots of fluids, tea with honey for a sore throat, get a much rest as you can. Chicken soup is a time honored remedy. Zinc lozenges are clinicaly proven to reduce the length of your cold.

Treament or cure for colds and flue are taking vit c capsules, drink alot of water and take a a rest for a whole day.

Michelle_Bittard - 27 August 2008 04:53 PM

sandra09 - 23 August 2008 09:48 PM

With the flu, you are sick all over.

I think this is probably the best way to tell the difference. Well put.

Cedar fever tends to mske you feel sick all over too.

What is cedar fever?

Mountain cedar pollen erupts from the trees and is spread all over the South Texas region, leading to cedar allergy sufferers experiencing symptoms that include congestion, irritated eyes, coughing, sneezing, and throat irritation. As the name "cedar fever" suggests, some also will run a low-grade fever due to the major inflammatory response their bodies generate in reaction to the high pollen levels. Cedar fever symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in susceptible individuals can make life pretty miserable with little to no relief from conventional treatments.
Not only does cedar pollen trigger strong allergic reactions, but it is produced in such huge quantities in this area, that the pollen simply overpowers most allergy remedies, so cedar fever symptoms can be very difficult to control.

Is cedar fever same as influenza?

Cedar fever is not the same as influenza. This type of fever is somehow being classified as an allergy rather than as a fever.

That's correct cedar fever is an allergy. It just makes you feel as though you have the flu or a cold.

Colds are viruses that cannot be treated by our immune system alone. That’s why we are advised to drink vitamins and more water to fight the sickness and strengthen our immune system.