The Common Cold and the Flu: Treatment, Symptoms & Causes

Washing your hands frequently, getting plenty of rest, eating healthy, drinking lots of fluids, avoiding close contact with sick people, and getting a flu shot can help reduce your chance of getting colds and the flu. Over-the-counter medications can help ease symptoms such as fevers, aches, and coughing.

Common Cold vs COVID-19 vs the Flu

You have a sore throat, cough, and a high fever. Is it COVID-19 Could it be the flu? Or just a cold?

All these illnesses are caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. All are contagious and can spread easily from person to person. And they cause some similar symptoms. So, it can be hard to tell them apart.

While symptoms for each are similar, cold symptoms are usually milder than flu and COVID-19 symptoms and develop more slowly. A tell-tale sign that you may have COVID-19 is loss of smell and taste. However, the only way to be 100% sure if you have a common cold, the flu, or COVID-19 is to take a Covid test.

What are the Causes of Flu and Cold?

Although many different viruses can cause a cold, rhinoviruses are the most cause of the common cold. A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes, or nose, usually when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, or speaks. You can also catch a cold by touching contaminated objects and surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Common Cold Symptoms and How Long They Last

The symptoms of the common cold typically begin two to three days after being infected, and the symptoms can last anywhere from two to 10 days.

If you have the following symptoms, then you may have a common cold:

  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing
  • Post-nasal drip (mucus going down your throat)
  • Watery eyes
  • Fever

Common Cold & Flu Treatment

Even though you can’t cure your cold, that doesn’t mean you need to suffer with each and every symptom until your body fights off the virus. You can go to your local pharmacy or grocery store and look for over-the-counter medications that relieve cold symptoms. You can also try home remedies to treat your symptoms.

Over-the-Counter Cold Symptom Treatment

Non-prescription medicine can help ease your cold symptoms. Although OTC medications like Tylenol Cold Cough Flu Syrup cannot cure a common cold, they can help you feel better.

Many over-the-counter Cold, Cough and Flu medicines treat multiple symptoms. Make sure to identify what other symptoms you may be experiencing with your cold, so you can get the cold cough flu medicine you need to give you fast relief.

Note on antibiotics: Colds and the flu are caused by viruses and cannot be cured with antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat and ear, skin, and urinary tract infections. Never take the best antibiotics for cough and cold as a treatment.

Visit Pearl Chemist Group online or in-store for a full selection of the best cold and flu over-the-counter medications. We can also provide prescription medications and pharmacy services at each of our South London locations.