# what's the difference between a really bad cold and influenza?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-really-bad-cold-and-influenza/356743>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 14, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-really-bad-cold-and-influenza/356743 "2006-05-14T17:51:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-really-bad-cold-and-influenza/356743/1 "2006-05-14T17:51:52Z")

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what’s the difference between a really bad cold and influenza?

I’m not seeking medical advice here - it’s just that I’ve occasionally heard someone say “so-and-so finally went to the doctor about that bad cold and the doc says it’s influenza.” The symptoms sound similar - fevers, congestion, etc. I understand that flu is more serious - but how does a doc tell the difference, short of testing the virus?

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-really-bad-cold-and-influenza/356743/2 "2006-05-14T17:57:25Z")

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IIRC, “colds” as we know them are caused by rhinoviruses (“nose viruses”) and tend to affect the sinuses, nose, and upper respiratory tract, while real influenza is a disease of the lungs–lower and more serious than a cold.

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-really-bad-cold-and-influenza/356743/3 "2006-05-14T17:59:51Z")

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The [second paragraph of this article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold) details the difference a little more.