© Freepik
August 10, 2025
Lena Sämann
Sneezing, coughing, fever – but is it just a harmless cold or a serious flu? Learn about the crucial differences and find out when you should see a doctor.
Find a DoctorSearch the network for suitable specialists and contact them directly
The nose is running, the head aches, and you feel tired – but is it just a common cold or actually the flu? This question is asked by millions of people each year, especially during the cold season. Correctly distinguishing between them is important, because while a cold is usually harmless, real flu can lead to serious complications.
A cold usually develops gradually over several days. Symptoms often start with a slight scratchy throat or a stuffy nose. Typical signs include:
Symptoms usually peak after 2-3 days and then gradually subside. A cold typically lasts 7-10 days.
Unlike a cold, a genuine flu usually appears very suddenly. From one moment to the next, you feel really sick. The symptoms are significantly more intense:
Flu can last 1-2 weeks, and the exhaustion can last for weeks.
As colds are usually caused by viruses, antibiotics do not help. The treatment focuses on alleviating the symptoms:
Hausmittel und Selbstpflege:
Medication support:
The treatment of flu usually requires more attention and possibly medical care:
Basic measures:
Drug therapy:
The annual flu vaccination is the most effective protection against influenza. It is especially recommended for:
Both colds and flu can be reduced by simple measures:
A strong immune system is the best protection against infections:
Während Erkältungen meist harmlos verlaufen, kann eine Grippe zu ernsthaften Komplikationen führen:
Therefore, it is important to take the symptoms seriously and seek medical help if they worsen or persist.
Distinguishing between a cold and the flu is not always easy, but it is important for the right treatment. While a cold is usually treatable with home remedies and patience, the flu requires more attention and often medical care.
In both cases, the rule is: Listen to your body, allow yourself rest, and do not hesitate to seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen. Prevention through vaccination, good hygiene, and a healthy Immunsystem bleibt der beste Schutz vor beiden Erkrankungen.
Denken Sie daran: Bei Unsicherheiten ist es immer besser, einmal zu viel als einmal zu wenig zum Arzt zu gehen – Ihre Gesundheit ist es wert.
When cancer runs in the family, questions about one's own risk often follow. In the first installment of her column, geneticist Dr. Laura von der Heyden explains how inherited genetic variants influence the risk of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer — and how this knowledge can change preventive care.
Dr. med. Laura von der Heyden
By
Implant or your own tissue, now or after treatment — or perhaps no reconstruction at all? Plastic surgeon Dr. Juliane Bodo explains what role radiation plays, what risks to expect, and why no one should make this decision under pressure.
Christine Bürg & Marianne Waldenfels
An interview with
Dr. med. Juliane Bodo
A single hydrogel injection into the knee may relieve osteoarthritis pain for years. Orthopedist Dr. Ivo Breitenbacher has treated around 200 patients with it and explains who the procedure is right for and where its limitations lie
Christine Bürg & Marianne Waldenfels
An interview with
Dr. med. Ivo Breitenbacher
