Considering how common they are, colds and flu are the subject
of a great many misconceptions. Dr. Seth Feltheimer, an
associate attending physician, and Patricia Ciminera, nurse
practitioner at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia
University Medical Center, offer their insights and expertise on
these sources of misery. First, the differences: a cold is
usually an upper respiratory tract infection with symptoms
including a sore throat, head congestion, sinus pain, and low-
grade fever. On the other hand, the flu is generally marked by a
higher fever, a sore throat, a cough, and body aches. A common
cold usually lasts two to three days while the flu usually takes
a week or more to abate. Unlike colds, the flu can lead to more
serious complications and even hospitalization, especially in
high-risk individuals like asthmatics, people with compromised
immune systems, and the elderly. Now, on to the facts and the
fallacies! Click here to download a printable PDF version of
this slideshow The best way to prevent