What is the difference between influenza and viral colds?

Influenza and viral colds will both have adverse effects and harm to human health. Influenza is mainly an acute respiratory infection caused by epidemic viruses, and viral colds include the common cold, influenza and viral pharyngitis.

1. Influenza (flu for short) is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza virus. It is also a highly contagious and rapidly spreading disease. It is mainly transmitted through droplets in the air, contact between people or contact with contaminated objects. Typical clinical symptoms are: sudden onset of high fever, body pain, significant fatigue and mild respiratory symptoms.

2. Generally, autumn and winter are the peak seasons for the disease , and the complications and deaths caused are very serious. The disease is caused by influenza virus, which can be divided into three types: A, B, and C. Type A virus often undergoes antigenic mutations, is highly contagious, spreads rapidly, and is very likely to become a large-scale epidemic. Influenza A H1N1 is a type A virus. The disease is self-limiting, but infants, the elderly, and patients with underlying cardiopulmonary diseases are prone to serious complications such as pneumonia, which can lead to death.

3. Viral cold is a common disease among people , including common cold, influenza and viral pharyngitis, which are mainly transmitted through the nasal cavity through air or hand contact. Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus. The virus exists in the patient's respiratory tract and is transmitted through droplets when the patient coughs or sneezes.

4. Due to its strong infectiousness , difficult to control transmission routes, fast transmission speed and wide transmission range, it is difficult to control and poses great harm, and may even lead to severe cases (severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, etc.). The common cold is caused by rhinovirus, coronavirus and parainfluenza virus. It is much less contagious than influenza and often occurs individually. People are more likely to get sick when the body's resistance is reduced.