Cold or flu? Experts on how to tell the difference as Christmas 'flunami' sweeps the UK... and when you need to seek medical help
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Many of will be plagued with runny noses, coughs and sore throats this winter. But it can be tricky to tell whether it's a cold or the flu responsible. Flu figures released this week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show cases and hospitalisations have continued to rise.
![[Graphic shows the common symptoms (green tick), occasional and possible symptoms (orange circle) and the symptoms that never occur (red cross) with the common cold, flu and Covid]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/09/10/78435737-12942271-Graphic_shows_the_common_symptoms_green_tick_occasional_and_poss-a-3_1704796935293.jpg)
More than 17 million flu vaccinations have been administered in the UK this year, but still experts fear the outbreak of flu will continue to pick up pace in the coming weeks as a result of more people socialising indoors over Christmas and the New Year.
![[More than 17 million flu vaccinations have been administered in the UK this year, but still experts fear the outbreak of flu will continue to pick up pace in the coming weeks as a result of more people socialising indoors over Christmas and the New Year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/10/93348895-14213291-image-a-3_1734690803552.jpg)
Separate figures reveal the vomiting bug norovirus — which can also cause diarrhoea — have hit a decade-high. It comes as health leaders have already warned the health service must brace itself for a 'quad-demic' driven the four winter illnesses — flu, Covid, norovirus and cold-like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
![[Rates of the vomiting bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are also more than double the levels seen pre-Covid for this time of year, fresh figures show]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/10/93322719-14213291-Rates_of_the_vomiting_bug_which_can_also_cause_diarrhoea_are_als-a-1_1734690488010.jpg)
So what are the tell-tale signs of the flu and norovirus? And how can you tell them apart from the common cold?. Here, MailOnline breaks down the difference between each illness and when you should seek medical help. Flu figures released this week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show cases and hospitalisations have continued to rise.
Colds. Rhinoviruses are the most common cause of a cold, but these minor infection of the nose and throat can be due to one of more than 200 different viruses. If symptoms are mostly restricted to the upper airways, it is likely to be a cold. Dr Jamie Winn at Universal Drugstore said: 'The common cold and the flu belong to two different viruses, common colds are rhinoviruses whereas flu is from influenza strains.
