Most people confuse the terms "Cold" and "Flu" because the illnesses share some of the same features. Both infections are caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract, mainly in the winter season, and both exhibit similar symptoms.⁶²

Definition: Cold vs. Flu

Cold - A cold is a minor viral infection of the nose and throat that can occur in any season. Five different families of viruses cause colds, notably the Rhinovirus family of more than 100 different varieties.⁶³

Flu - Influenza is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract (the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and middle ear), caused by changing strains of influenza type A and Type B viruses.⁶⁴