It's cold in here...

[Kythereia]

OK, I'll bite. It's a stupidly easy question, I know...

...but what's the difference between a cold and a flu?

[Chimpy]

If you're lying on the sofa with a cold and there's a £20 note on the lawn you'll get up and pick it up, if you're lying on the sofa with the 'flu you won't even realise the note is there.

[lieu]

Both are viruses. The main difference (http://quickcare.org/resp/colds.html) between the two lies in the type.

[Colophon]

And to add a further level of distinction: with flu, you're worried you might die; with "gastric flu" you're worried you might not.

[Popup]

And to add a further level of distinction: with flu, you're worried you might die; with "gastric flu" you're worried you might not. Actually, most (all?) of what's called 'gastric flu' is not a flu (or at least not related to common flu), but food poisoning. Still not a very nice experience, as I'm the first to admit.

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Actually, most (all?) of what's called 'gastric flu' is not a flu (or at least not related to common flu), but food poisoning. Still not a very nice experience, as I'm the first to admit.
No, there's a lot of viruses out there that cause gastro-enteritis. It's not influenza, but it's pretty nasty. WAG: At least half the cases of nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea are viral infections, half are "food poisoning" (which is a wide topic in itself with multiple causes).

But you're right, there is no "stomach flu".

And as one poster said in another thread: Imagine a model train chugging around a track in a hobbyist's basement. That's a cold. Then imagine the most powerful locomotive in the world rushing at you at full throttle. That's influenza.

QtM, MD

[Desmostylus]

...half are "food poisoning" (which is a wide topic in itself with multiple causes).What are water borne parasites like Cyrptosporidium and Giardia? Or water borne bacteria like E. coli or Vibrio cholerae? Food poisoning?

[AskNott]

My doctor told me last week a brief list of flu symptoms. He counted off; fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, an overall aching, and the feeling that you've been run over by a truck. (I might have missed one or two, and my doc, trying not to worry me, didn't mention death.) I've had it a couple of times, and that sounds about right.

On the other hand, if you have all that plus a strong desire to ride a train, you may have the dreaded Amtraks. ;)