Flu vs Catch a Cold: Symptoms & Differences

[prochatz]

Hello,
Could someone tell me the difference between the infection of a virus (or bacteria...) and to catch a cold? Do we have the same symptoms? In case we catch a cold why do these symptoms occur?

 

[selfAdjoint]

Colds are caused by viruses just as flu is. Colds mostly stay in the respiratory tract: head nose and chest, while flu also invades the rest of the body causing fevers, muscle aches and agues.

 

[pattylou]

Flu is also distinguished as being caused by influenza virus (in the case of "normal" flu) or rotavirus and others (in the case of "stomach flu.")

Colds are generally caused by rhinovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, or reovirus.

Different virus families generally have all sorts of subtle ramifications for the disease.

I participate on another board that is good for these kinds of Q's. Here's a thread on cold viruses:

http://www.elmhurstsolutions.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1134342055/0#0