You may also have muscle aches, a scratchy or sore throat, watery eyes and a headache. As the cold worsens, your nasal mucus may turn from thin and watery to yellow and thick. Your symptoms may vary with each cold. A cold usually lasts three or four days but can last up to 10 days. Many adults will have at least one or two colds a year, and most children will have five to eight.
Colds are most common during months when people tend to gather indoors.
The flu, which is a nickname for the influenza virus, starts suddenly and hits hard. You'll probably feel weak and tired, and have a dry cough, a runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain and a sore throat. The fever may last for three to five days. After the flu goes away, you may still feel weak and tired or keep coughing for up to three weeks. The flu is most common in winter and early spring.