If you are coughing, sneezing, or have a sore throat and stuffy nose, then you might pass it off as the common cold. But is that all it is? More serious conditions like the flu or pneumonia have similar symptoms, and if you are dealing with these then early treatment is important. Ignoring early signs could lead to bigger problems that you will need to get medical attention for. While colds, flu, and pneumonia do have some similarities, there are some symptom differences that you might want to look out for. Along with this, in general, your symptoms are likely to be more severe if you have a cold or pneumonia.
Common Cold
Colds are illnesses caused by viruses that will affect your upper respiratory tract including the nose, throat, ears, and sinuses. Common colds are also referred to as an upper respiratory infection. There are more than two hundred cold viruses, but if you have a cold, it’s likely that you are going to have rhinovirus, which is the most common. In adults, it will usually lead to common symptoms like sneezing or a blocked nose, while infants and children might get more severe symptoms such as ear infections from a common cold, which can make it harder to tell apart from other conditions.
Flu
The flu will typically be more severe in comparison to a cold and will affect the places that are targeted by a common cold along with the lower respiratory tract, including the lungs. Fever is also a common symptom of the flu that you will probably not experience with a common cold, and it is specifically caused by one of the Influenza viruses. The flu will generally feel worse in comparison with a cold. Children are hit particularly hard by this condition. Body aches, high fevers, and fatigue are some common early symptoms of a cold.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is likely to feel much worse than either a common cold or flu, as it is an infection in one or both lungs. It is the result of a virus, bacteria, or fungi. It causes the air sacs or alveoli in the lungs to fill up with fluid, which can lead to the patient struggling to breathe. Pneumonia can be a very serious condition, and people over the age of 65 along with infants under two years old are in the highest risk category. Learn more about pneumonia, what causes it, symptoms, and treatments at Patient.info. The site also provides information on when to see a doctor, how it is diagnosed, and if you can prevent it.
What Causes These Conditions?
A virus can be responsible for all of these conditions. Viruses are responsible for the flu and the common cold, and there are several different virus strains that can cause colds. On the other hand, only a couple of virus strains can cause a flu. However, in the case of pneumonia, it’s not always as simple. This condition can be caused by a virus, but it may also be the result of fungi or a bacterial infection. In the majority of cases, bacterial pneumonia will be more serious and last for longer in comparison with viral pneumonia, which is not typically as serious.
Common Cold Symptoms
The easiest way to tell if you have the common cold or something more serious is by checking the symptoms that you are experiencing. With a common cold, there are a number of possible symptoms including a sore throat, cough, mild headache, mild body aches, a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and generally feeling unwell.
Flu Symptoms
There are some more severe symptoms in comparison with the common cold to look out for if you have the flu. Along with the symptoms that you might expect from the common cold like a sore throat, you may also experience a fever and chills, more severe muscle and body aches, and be more fatigued. While not everybody will, some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting when they have the flu.
Pneumonia Symptoms
If you have pneumonia, then you will usually have more worrying symptoms compared to a common cold or the flu. People with pneumonia might experience symptoms such as nausea, fever and chills, shortness of breath, and chest pain when coughing or breathing. You may also experience fatigue and phlegm with a cough. Older patients, especially those who are over the age of sixty-five, may also experience a lowered mental awareness or confusion when suffering from pneumonia, along with low body temperature. Pneumonia can be especially dangerous for those who are living with pre-existing lung or heart conditions.
Symptom Onset
Another factor to be aware of if you want to figure out whether you have a cold, the flu, or pneumonia is that the onset of symptoms will usually move at different paces. With the flu, the symptoms can come on quite quickly, so if you felt fine one day and then wake up unwell the next morning, it might be the flu. On the other hand, with a common cold, the symptoms are more likely to come on gradually, so you might experience a sore throat, followed by a stuffy nose, followed by other symptoms. The speed at which pneumonia symptoms can come on will depend on the underlying cause. Bacterial pneumonia in an otherwise healthy person under the age of sixty-five will usually come on quite quickly. However, other types such as viral or fungal pneumonia will usually have symptoms that appear more gradually.
How Long Do Symptoms Last?
While most people with a common cold find that their symptoms will clear up within around one week, some cold symptoms do linger for around two weeks. In most cases, the symptoms of the flu also last for around this amount of time. On the other hand, if you have pneumonia, you might be dealing with the symptoms for up to three weeks after being infected. However, some kinds of pneumonia can clear up after a week, although you are likely to continue with a persistent cough for longer.
Prevention and Vaccines
While there is not a lot that you can do to prevent the common cold, getting vaccinated is your best line of defence against the flu and pneumonia. These vaccines are designed to reduce, rather than completely eliminate the risk.
When to Get Medical Attention
For the most part, you won’t need any medical attention if you have the common cold or even the flu if you are generally healthy. Pneumonia may require you to see your doctor depending on the underlying cause and the symptoms. Experts recommend speaking to your doctor or calling 111 if you have a cold or flu with symptoms that include persistent coughing, fever, headaches, and congestion. Painful swallowing is another symptom that is worth getting checked out. Pain in your face, particularly around your eyes, with a thick nasal discharge after a week of cold symptoms could be a sign that you have a bacterial infection, which can be treated with antibiotics. With pneumonia, serious symptoms like pain while breathing or difficulty breathing should be given immediate, emergency attention.
Is it the common cold, the flu, or pneumonia? Since lots of the symptoms overlap, it is worth knowing the difference between them so you can make the best decisions for your health.
