The Flu Comes on Fast and Furious
One way to determine if you have a common cold versus the flu is that the flu is usually much more severe. The flu hits you fast and hard and affects your entire body. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme fatigue, and dry cough are more intense with the flu. Flu symptoms may start to improve in 2 to 5 days, but you may feel run down for a week or more.
Cold symptoms are more minor and often begin with a sore throat, and include a runny or stuffy nose. Most symptoms tend to be above the neck. Cold symptoms come on gradually and usually last about a week.