how to tell cold from flu

The flu typically has a sudden, severe onset with high fever and body aches, while a cold develops gradually with milder symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing.

Onset of symptoms. Flu symptoms often appear abruptly, with many people feeling fine one day and significantly worse the next. Cold symptoms tend to ramp up over a few days.
Fever and body aches. Fever, chills, and severe muscle or body aches are common and often intense with the flu, whereas they are rare or mild with a common cold.
Nasal symptoms. Sneezing and a runny or stuffy nose are hallmark symptoms of a cold. While they can occur with the flu, they are less consistent indicators.
Severity and complications. Flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia and hospitalization, while colds are usually self-limiting and rarely cause severe health issues.