Cold vs Flu
By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed Next review due Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.
Is it a cold or the flu?
A cold comes on slowly over a day or two and mostly affects your nose and throat. Flu arrives within hours and floors you: a sudden high temperature, aching muscles and tiredness that keeps you in bed. Sneezing and a blocked nose that came on gradually, with symptoms you can work through, point to a cold. Most people recover at home either way.
Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if
- Sudden chest pain
- Severe difficulty breathing — gasping, choking, or unable to get words out
- Coughing up blood
If you are weighing up whether it is bad enough to call, that is itself a reason to call. Nobody is annoyed by a 999 call that turns out to be the less serious of the two.
| Feature | Common Cold | Influenza (Flu) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical signs |
|
|
| How long it lasts | 7–10 days | 1–2 weeks (fatigue may linger) |
| What helps | Rest, fluids, decongestants, paracetamol | Rest, fluids, antivirals (Tamiflu) if at risk. Call 111 if you are 65 or over, pregnant or recently gave birth, have a long-term condition or weakened immune system, feel very unwell or short of breath, or are no better after 7 days. |
| What to do | Self-care at home | See a GP |
Sources and further reading
This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.
What to do next
Not sure whether this needs a doctor? These are your options, cheapest and fastest first.