Cold vs Flu: Symptoms, Home Treatment and When to See a Doctor

A scratchy throat, a blocked nose and a heavy head. Or a sudden fever, shivering and a body that aches all over. In Pakistan the change of season, especially in autumn and winter, brings a wave of colds and flu, and most people reach for antibiotics or injections. They do not help, because both are caused by viruses. Knowing which one you have, and what really helps, saves money and avoids side effects.

Cold or flu? How to tell

COVID-19 and other viruses can look just like a cold or flu. If you have been exposed, are at high risk or are very unwell, a test is worthwhile.

Do I need antibiotics?

No. Colds and flu are viral infections, and antibiotics do not kill viruses. Taking them brings side effects, such as diarrhoea and allergic reactions, and adds to antibiotic resistance. A doctor will prescribe an antibiotic only if there is a secondary bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or a bacterial sinus or ear infection.

Home care that helps

• Rest and stay at home, to recover and avoid spreading the virus.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Warm water, soup, chicken yakhni, kehwa and honey-lemon tea soothe the throat. Do not give honey to a baby under one year.
• Gargle with warm salt water to ease a sore throat.
• Use a saline nose spray or drops, and inhale steam carefully, to loosen a blocked nose.
• Raise your head with an extra pillow to ease breathing at night.
• Keep the room warm but ventilated, and avoid smoke.

Medicines for symptoms

• Paracetamol for fever, headache and body ache. Do not take extra doses, and check the labels of combined cold tablets, since many already contain paracetamol.
• Ibuprofen is an alternative for aches and fever in adults who can safely use it. Avoid it in stomach ulcers, kidney disease and asthma if it triggers attacks.
• Antihistamines such as cetirizine or chlorpheniramine dry up a runny nose and sneezing. Older ones like chlorpheniramine cause drowsiness.
• Decongestant nasal sprays unblock the nose quickly, but use them for no more than three days to avoid rebound congestion. Decongestant tablets can raise blood pressure.
• Cough: honey and warm drinks help a dry cough, dextromethorphan may calm a dry irritating cough, and guaifenesin can loosen a chesty cough. Cough and cold syrups are not suitable for young children, so ask a doctor before giving them to children under six.
• Zinc lozenges may slightly shorten a cold if started within a day or so of the first symptoms. Vitamin C taken once you are ill has little effect.

Antiviral medicines for flu, such as oseltamivir, work best when started within 48 hours. They are for people at high risk or severe illness, and need a doctor’s prescription.

Who is at higher risk of complications?

• Babies and young children, and adults over 65
• Pregnant women
• People with asthma, diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease, or weak immunity
• People living in long-term care or very crowded settings

When to see a doctor

• Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, wheeze or chest pain
• Blue or grey lips, confusion or extreme drowsiness
• Fever lasting more than three days, or above 39°C
• Symptoms that improve and then suddenly get worse, which may mean pneumonia
• Severe sinus pain, ear pain or sore throat. See sinusitis and ear infection.
• Signs of dehydration, such as very little urine and dizziness
• A baby under 3 months with fever, or a child who is not drinking. See fever in children.
• Asthma that is getting worse. See asthma.

How to prevent colds and flu

• Get the flu vaccine every year, ideally in early autumn before the season. It is advised for older adults, pregnant women, young children from six months, and people with chronic illness.
• Wash hands often with soap, and do not touch the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and stay home when ill.
• Avoid close contact with sick people and ventilate rooms.
• Sleep well, eat a balanced diet, exercise and do not smoke.

Key takeaways

• Colds are gradual and mild, while flu starts suddenly with fever and severe aches.
• Both are viral, so antibiotics do not help.
• Rest, fluids and paracetamol treat most cases, and nasal decongestant sprays should not be used beyond three days.
• Breathing trouble, blue lips, a high fever or worsening after improvement need a doctor, and the yearly flu vaccine prevents illness.

Related medicines on Medimart

These are commonly used for cold and flu symptoms. Please check the dose for your age and weight on the label.

• Paracetamol: for fever, headache and body aches
• Cetirizine: an antihistamine for a runny nose and sneezing
• Chlorpheniramine: a sedating antihistamine for colds
• Paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine: a combination cold and flu medicine
• Dextromethorphan: for a dry, irritating cough
• Guaifenesin: helps loosen chesty cough
• Zinc sulphate: a zinc supplement
• Influenza vaccine: yearly protection against flu

Prescription medicines are supplied only against a valid prescription. Please take them only as advised by your doctor.

Browse cold and flu medicines and cough relief on Medimart with delivery across Pakistan. Prescription medicines are supplied only against a valid prescription.

This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor. If you are very unwell or breathless, please see a doctor.