 [ Symptoms ] do i have the flu or a cold  i have a headache running nose sometimes with blood bad cough heat and cold flashes nauseous and a loss of appetite [ Disease ] that would be a difficult question to answer without the ability to examine you cold and influenza are viruses and tend to cause similar symptoms influenza tends to be worse usually with a fever response not just hot or cold flashes influenza is a respiratory viruses some abdominal symptoms are not typical in adults kids with flu can get them though if i had to take a guess i would say that you most likely have a nasty viral infection but not necessarily influenza the only way to be sure is to have a rapid flu test if you have been ill for less than two days antiviral medications like tamiflu can be used there is really nothing that can be done for a cold other than symptom control treating the symptoms of colds and flu is often the only thing that can be done trying to feel better while nature orchestrates the cure both colds and flu last about a week with the first 3 4 days being the worst