Flu is not a heavy cold, in fact, it’s much worse and symptoms can come on suddenly and can be severe. The table below explains the difference between a cold and flu.
| Cold | Flu |
| Symptoms appear gradually | Symptoms appear quickly within a few hours |
| Symptoms affect mainly nose and throat | Symptoms affect mainly nose and throat |
| Makes someone feel unwell but they can carry on as normal, such as going to work or school | Makes someone feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal |
