It's not easy to tell these health conditions apart based on their symptoms alone. Find out about the differences between these illnesses.

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?

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.

Muscat: As seasonal changes bring a rise in respiratory illnesses, health professionals are highlighting the distinction between the common cold ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 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 ...