If you have a cold, you can have any or all of these symptoms: increased nasal discharge (a runny nose), difficulty breathing through the nose, sneezing, a scratchy throat, and cough. The ability to taste and to smell may be affected, hoarseness may develop, and the voice often develops a nasal quality. Adults may experience a slight fever, while infants and young children may develop a higher temperature. The symptoms of the average cold last about one week. However, in roughly one out of every four cases, the illness lasts up to two weeks. In general, cold symptoms-especially the cough, tend to be worse in smokers.
What are the symptoms of the flu or influenza?
Flu symptoms are often more severe than cold symptoms. If you have the flu, you can have any or all of these symptoms: fever, muscle aches, headache, lack of energy, dry cough, sore throat, and possibly a runny nose. These symptoms usually last for several days for most people; however, they can last for as long as two weeks. People with lung disease or weakened immunity and the elderly are prone to severe and possibly fatal complications from the flu.
