The common cold and the flu are frequently confused due to their overlapping symptoms. However, they are caused by different viruses and require distinct approaches to care and management.

Q My wife started getting sick a few days before Halloween. We were worried that it was going to turn into a bad respiratory illness, but it stayed in her nose and throat. That’s a common cold, right?

Dear A.T.R.: Both colds and influenza (the "flu") are respiratory illnesses that are caused by viruses. Influenza is caused specifically by the influenza viruses, which come in two main types (A and B ...

Dear Dr. Roach: What is the difference between a cold and the flu? — A.T.R. Answer: Both colds and influenza (the “flu”) are respiratory illnesses that are caused by viruses. Influenza is caused ...

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause many of the same symptoms as the common cold, seasonal allergies and the flu. So how can you tell if you have COVID-19? It may help to learn about the ...

Do you have a sore throat, a runny nose and muscle aches? It could be a common cold, a case of the flu -- or COVID-19. The illnesses all share similar symptoms, sometimes making it hard to distinguish ...

As colder temperatures set in for many U.S. states, the uncertainties of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger, leaving many people still wondering if the cough and aches they feel are ...

A particularly nasty flu season is peaking in Iowa and several hospitals in the state report admissions spikes and flooded emergency rooms. One Des Moines hospital even postponed all elective ...

Dear Doctors: My wife started getting sick a few days before Halloween. It stayed in her nose and throat. That’s a common cold, right? Why is having a cold so different from when you get the flu? An ...