When the temperatures drop, many people find themselves sniffling, coughing, or battling a fever. But how can you tell if it’s just a common cold or the more serious flu? While both illnesses share similar symptoms, their timelines and severity differ. Understanding these differences can help you determine the best course of action for treatment and recovery.

For same-day cold and flu treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Livingston. We’re open seven days a week and appointments are not required. Just walk-in today!

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Symptoms of The Common Cold

The common cold is a mild viral infection that primarily affects the upper respiratory system. It’s caused by various viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common culprit. While colds are typically harmless, they can cause discomfort.

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Nasal congestion
• Mild fever
• Chest congestion
• Fatigue and general tiredness

Symptoms of Influenza

The flu, or influenza, is a more severe viral infection caused by influenza viruses. It can affect the upper and lower respiratory systems and often leads to more intense symptoms than a cold.

• High fever
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Body aches and pain
• Chills
• Long-lasting fatigue and exhaustion
• Severe nose and chest congestion

Timeline Comparison of Symptoms

Let's take a look at their differences in how they manifest day to day:

Day 0

• Common Cold: This is the day you might happen to catch the virus. In the case of the common cold, it’s typical that no outward symptoms appear at this stage.

• Flu: Just as in the case of the common cold, this is also the day that a person is first infected. However, on day 0, an infected person is still contagious without showing any symptoms.

Day 1-2

• Common Cold: On the first day, an infected person will begin to feel an itch in their throat followed by a sore throat, and then finally runny nose and nose congestion. This can also be accompanied by a slight fever which signifies your body’s attempts to fight off the rhinovirus. During these first two days, you must take a lot of rest to give your immune system bandwidth to fight off the infection.

• Flu: Influenza symptoms first manifest in the form of inflammation, especially in the mucus lining due to the antibody's fervent attempt to fight off the infection. In most cases, the telltale signs of the flu, such as headaches and chills, begin to surface. By the second day, these symptoms spread to the rest of the respiratory tract and then develop to a fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, and fatigue.

Day 3-5

• Common Cold: At this stage, the severity of the symptoms begins to peak and includes more coughs, nose and chest congestion. You will also begin to notice that the mucus produced is thicker and discolored.

• Flu: On the third day, the flu reaches its peak. By this stage, the pharynx gets inflamed, causing severe congestion, headaches, and shortness of breath. The fourth day is when the body gains hold of the virus and active recovery begins. In this stage, the symptoms transform from body aches and fevers into wet productive coughs and some underlying inflammation.

Day 6-7

• Common Cold: This is the stage at which the symptoms start to ease and begin to recover even without treatment. By this point, hardly any symptoms are in play. At most there might be a lingering cough due to postnasal drip.

• Flu: At this point, the weakness and fatigue begin to fade and you can start getting out of bed. Several symptoms which include coughing, difficulty breathing, and some headache might remain but the infected start to generally get better.

Day 8-10

• Common Cold: Most normal colds should be completely resolved at this point, If symptoms persist, see a medical professional.

• Flu: For the flu, some symptoms might remain for extended periods such as fatigue but it is generally considered that at this point the flu should no longer be contagious.

Get Walk-In Cold & Flu Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Livingston in Livingston, NJ

While a common cold and the flu share overlapping symptoms, understanding their timelines differences can help you identify which illness you’re dealing with. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a cold or the flu, come visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Livingston. Get the quality care you need with no appointment required. Our urgent care center is conveniently located at 90 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston, NJ, and we provide urgent care seven days a week with no appointment necessary. We accept most health insurance plans and offer low-cost options for self-paying patients. If you have any additional questions about cold & flu treatment, or other services we provide, please contact our team directly at (973) 601-2626.