Your throat is itchy, your nose is running, and you’re feeling generally achy and tired. But do you have a cold or the flu? The symptoms can be quite similar as both are respiratory illnesses, but they’re caused by different viruses. Here’s how to tell the difference between the two.

How to tell if you’ve got the flu

If you’re freezing cold one minute and burning up the next, it’s a sign you’ve come down with a fever, which is most commonly associated with influenza. Similarly, fatigue and weakness usually go hand-in-hand with the flu, so if your body feels as heavy as lead and you just can’t drag yourself out of bed, influenza is probably the culprit.

While many of the symptoms of cold and flu overlap, the most marked difference between the two is how long the symptoms last for and how unwell you feel. Influenza is a serious illness that can leave you bedridden for up to two weeks and lead to complications if your immune system is compromised.

Common flu symptoms include:

• A high fever (38 °C or more)
• A dry cough
• Body aches
• Weakness and fatigue
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Loss of appetite

How to tell if you’ve got a cold

Although having a cold is never fun, the good news is that the symptoms tend to be less severe than the flu and clear up more quickly. You might have a stuffy nose, sore throat and headache, but if you still feel as though you can get up and do things, you’ve probably come down with a cold.

Cold symptoms tend to dissipate over about a week and are usually mild enough that you wouldn’t need to take more than a day or two off work.

Common cold symptoms include:

• A stuffy or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Red eyes
• Swelling of glands
• Mild fever

If you’re under the weather but you’re not sure if it’s a cold or the flu, make an appointment with a GP  to be safe.