The cold is usually less pronounced
The throat begins to scratch, the nose runs: pretty much everyone has had a cold before. On average, adults get a cold two to four times a year. [1] In medicine, respiratory disease is also known as a “flu infection”, which is why it is often confused with the flu. In fact, symptoms such as cough, runny nose, muscle and limb pain, and an elevated temperature can also occur with both diseases. In contrast to the flu, which occurs very suddenly, a cold tends to appear gradually and takes a more harmless course. The symptoms last for about 7 to 9 days and then usually go away on their own. 1
However, if you are unsure whether you are dealing with the flu, cold or the coronavirus, you should see a doctor. They can make a diagnosis and, if necessary, recommend medication or home remedies that can be used to treat the common cold.
Flu – no trivialities
A real flu is accompanied by significantly more severe symptoms than a cold. Typical are, for example, the immediate onset of high fever, severe headache and body aches, dry cough and a generally severe feeling of illness. Sufferers feel very weak and tired. The duration of the symptoms can also take longer and last up to two weeks.
Especially with older or immunocompromised people there is a risk that the flu will take a particularly severe course. Possible complications include pneumonia or meningitis, which can even be fatal. According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute, around 25,000 people in Germany died of the flu in the 2017/2018 season. [2]
Coronavirus: What are the symptoms of infection?
At the end of December 2010, increased cases of lung diseases were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Shortly afterwards it became clear who was responsible: the new virus 2019-nCoV, which can be transmitted from person to person and spreads quickly.
So far, the coronavirus has been known to produce symptoms similar to classic flu. These include, for example, fever, cough, muscle pain, severe fatigue and difficulty breathing. Rarely, infected people also report headaches and diarrhea. The upper respiratory tract, on the other hand, appears to be hardly affected by the infection, and dandruff is not a typical complaint.
Some of the patients are also seriously ill. So far, however, deaths have only occurred in the elderly or people with a severely damaged immune system.
The incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms, is up to 14 days for the coronavirus. [3] If you have recently been to the Chinese city of Wuhan or have had contact with infected people, it is best to consult a doctor if you have symptoms such as fever. Otherwise it is more likely to be a normal flu or a simple cold. But even in these cases, a visit to a doctor is recommended.
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[1] Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung: Basics of colds – good to know! (02.07.2020).
[2] Robert Koch Institute: Report on the epidemiology of influenza in Germany season, 2018/19. P. 8.
[3] Robert Koch Institute: Answers to frequently asked questions about the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). (02.07.2020).
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