 [ Symptoms ] is it possible to have both a cold and a flu at the same time  there are symptoms from both when i looked at the cold or flu article [ Disease ] yes a person can have more than one viral infection at the same time true influenza is so miserable that how would you even know if you also had a common cold diagnosed early and by laboratory confirmation there is a rapid flu test the course of influenza can be shortened by using a drug called tamiflu colds of course have no specific treatment they will last about a week