Colds and the flu are two incredibly common respiratory infections. Each calendar year, the average American adult gets around two to three colds, while approximately 8% of the population catches the flu as it circulates between about October and May.
In some ways, it is easy to confuse the common cold with the flu. After all, they're both contagious respiratory illnesses, and they share many symptoms, such as headache, sore throat and cough. However, there are important distinctions between these two illnesses, and the differences affect how each is diagnosed and treated.
