When it comes to the cold and flu, both illnesses have similar symptoms, but there are some differences to tell the two apart. Usually a cold takes a few days to build up, while the flu comes on quickly. A cold lasts about three to five days, while a flu tends to stick around twice as long, and a fever is much more common among flu patients, as well as headaches, body aches and a dry cough. However, if your cough produces a lot of mucus or fluid, and is accompanied by a sore throat, sneezing and head congestion, that’s more typical of a cold. Additionally, colds are more common in early fall and in spring, while the flu is usually confined to its winter schedule. (Photo: Unity Point Health)