In short
- A cold comes on gradually and mainly affects your nose and throat. Flu comes on within hours and leaves you exhausted.
- Rest, fluids and paracetamol or ibuprofen are the main home treatments for both.
- Antibiotics do not work for colds or flu, because both are caused by viruses.
- People over 65, pregnant women and people with long-term conditions or weak immunity should speak to a doctor about flu symptoms.
- Sudden chest pain, severe difficulty breathing or coughing up blood means calling 998.
Cold or flu?
| Cold | Flu | |
|---|---|---|
| How it starts | Gradually, over a few days | Quickly, within a few hours |
| Where you feel it | Mainly nose and throat | More than just your nose and throat |
| How you feel | Unwell, but able to carry on as normal | Exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal |
A cold brings a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, a hoarse voice and a cough. Flu brings a sudden high temperature, an aching body, tiredness, a dry cough, a headache and loss of appetite. WHO says flu symptoms usually begin 1 to 4 days after infection and last around a week, and that most people recover without medical care.
Looking after yourself at home
- Rest and sleep, and drink plenty of water so your pee is light yellow or clear.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a temperature and ease aches. Do not take paracetamol at the same time as cold and flu remedies that also contain it.
- Breathe in steam, for example in a bathroom with a hot shower running, to ease a blocked nose. Do not let children use a bowl of hot water.
- Try hot lemon and honey for a sore throat, but no honey for babies under 12 months.
- Use decongestant nasal sprays for no more than a week, and not in children under 6.
The NHS says there is little evidence that vitamin C, echinacea or garlic prevent colds or help you recover faster. To protect others, wash your hands often, catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue and bin it, and stay at home while you have a high temperature.
When a video consultation suits it
Speak to a doctor about flu symptoms if you are 65 or over, pregnant or have recently given birth, have a long-term condition such as diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or liver condition, have a weakened immune system, feel very unwell or short of breath, or are not improving after 7 days. With a cold, speak to a doctor if a high temperature lasts more than 3 days, symptoms are not better after 10 days, or you are worried about a child.
WHO lists pregnant women, children under 5, older people and people with chronic conditions among those at greater risk of severe flu. A video call lets a doctor check how you are coping without you leaving the house. For antiviral flu medicine prescribed through telehealth, the DHA telehealth standard recommends an influenza A and B antigen test, so the doctor may ask you to have a swab.
Expect questions about when symptoms started, how quickly they came on, your temperature, your breathing, how much you are drinking, and any long-term conditions or medicines.
When you need to be seen in person
If you feel short of breath, have chest pain or a very high temperature, the doctor may ask you to attend a clinic so they can listen to your chest. Flu can lead to pneumonia, and WHO notes it can make other long-term illnesses worse.
Signs that need 998
Call 998 or go to an emergency department if you get sudden chest pain, have severe difficulty breathing, gasping, choking or unable to get words out, or start coughing up blood. Do not drive yourself.
Which doctor to see
A general practitioner or family medicine doctor is the usual choice, with a paediatrician for children. If you want to plan ahead, read who should think about a flu vaccine in the UAE. The doctors you can book through medicAI work at independent facilities licensed by DHA or DoH, and those facilities are responsible for your care.
Doctors you can book for cold and flu
Dr Anju Begum, General Practitioner, uniCare Medical CenterGeneral Practitioner · 10 years · Hindi, Urdu, English
Dr. Leena KapoorGeneral Practitioner · 28 years · AED 25 · Hindi, Urdu, English
Dr. Tarun ShuklaPediatrics · 35 years
Dr. Dany RajakumarGeneral Practitioner · 5 years
Dr. Shilpa Surian, General Practitioner, WeCARE Medical Center LLCGeneral Practitioner · 3 years · AED 45 · English, Malayalam
Dr. Ekramulla Mohamed Ali, General Practitioner, Wecare Medical CenterGeneral PractitionerDoctors are independent. A listing is not a recommendation. Before you book, you can check a doctor's licence in the health authority's public register. See all doctors.
Questions people ask
How can I tell if I have a cold or flu?
Flu comes on quickly, within a few hours, and leaves you too exhausted to carry on as normal. A cold builds up gradually and mainly affects your nose and throat.
Do antibiotics help with a cold or flu?
No. Both are caused by viruses and antibiotics only work on bacteria, so they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up recovery.
How long am I contagious?
With a cold, you are infectious until your symptoms have gone, usually 1 to 2 weeks. With flu, you are most likely to pass it on in the first 5 days.
When should I see a doctor for flu?
Speak to a doctor if you are 65 or over, pregnant, have a long-term condition or weak immunity, feel very unwell or short of breath, or are not improving after 7 days.
Does the flu vaccine stop colds?
No. The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, but it does not prevent colds.
Sources and further reading
- Common cold (NHS)
- Flu (NHS)
- Influenza (seasonal) (WHO)
- Standards for Telehealth Services, Version 4 (DHA)
Read next
medicAI is not for emergencies. If someone is seriously ill or injured, call 998 or go to the nearest hospital.
This page is general information. It does not replace advice from a doctor who knows your situation. medicAI is a technology platform. Care is given by independent licensed facilities, who are responsible for it and for its outcome.
