Colds, the flu, and sinus infections: What to know

If you have a blocked or runny nose, headache, or cough, you might think you have a cold, flu, or a sinus infection. These conditions have a lot of similarities, but they also have some key differences to help you tell them apart.

For example, they all have different causes, and there is some variation in the symptoms they cause. Importantly, they’re all treated differently. Knowing what condition is affecting you can help you seek the correct treatment.

Colds

The common cold, true to its name, is a common infection affecting millions of people worldwide each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults might catch up to 3 colds per year, and kids might have even more.

Causes

Viruses cause colds. Many different viruses can cause a cold, and rhinoviruses are the most common type. These viruses are easily transmissible from one person to another and often crop up in colder seasons.

The viruses causing colds can spread through air or physical contact. For example, if someone coughs or sneezes around you, you’re more likely to catch the virus. You can also get it by shaking hands with someone with a cold and touching your face or mouth before washing your hands.

Some people believe that you may catch a cold by going out with wet hair. But there’s no evidence to suggest that wet hair increases your risk of catching a cold. Viruses can only be passed on from person to person contact.

Symptoms

Colds can cause a variety of symptoms. You might only experience some of these, but you’ll likely experience many at once. Some include:

• runny nose
• sneezing
• congestion
• headache
• sore throat
• coughing
• chills or fever (rare symptoms)
• slight body aches

Colds can last up to 2 weeks, but according to the CDC, symptoms usually worsen within the first 3 days.

Treatments and prevention

There is no medical cure for a cold — usually, doctors advise you to wait while you get better on your own. They will likely give you the following advice to help you feel better:

• make sure you’re well rested
• stay hydrated
• use an over-the-counter (OTC) nasal spray to ease congestion
• take OTC decongestant medications like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

You can also take some measures to avoid getting a cold in the first place by boosting your immune system, making you less susceptible to infections. These include:

• getting plenty of vitamin D
• washing your hands regularly
• eating a balanced diet
• getting plenty of sleep

Consider discussing with a healthcare professional before starting any medications or supplements.

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The flu

The flu, or influenza, is another common infection that becomes more common in the colder months. It’s similar to the cold but can have more serious complications.

Causes

Like colds, viruses cause flu. One of the four types of influenza viruses may cause flu. The most common flu-causing viruses during the flu season in the United States are influenza A and influenza B.

Like other viruses, the flu virus also spreads from person to person, mainly through tiny droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes. According to the CDC, the virus may be transmissible from day 1 before you notice symptoms until up to 7 days after you start seeing them.

Symptoms

The flu affects your respiratory system, causing similar symptoms to a cold. These include:

• fever
• cough
• runny or blocked nose
• body aches, including headache
• fatigue

While most people recover from the flu within 2 weeks, it can also lead to more serious complications. These are more common in people with weakened immune systems, such as older adults (adults ages 65 and above) and young children. Examples of these complications include:

• pneumonia
• ear or sinus infections
• worsening of an existing condition, such as asthma
• swelling of the heart or brain

If you think you’re developing any of these complications, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately. They may be life threatening.

Treatments and prevention

If you aren’t at risk of complications, the flu might go away on its own. Like the cold, you can treat symptoms with OTC medications and plenty of rest and hydration.

But you might benefit from antiviral drugs, especially if you take them within 2 days of symptom onset. One common example is oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Antivirals may reduce the severity of symptoms, reduce the length of time you feel sick, and lower your risk of complications.

Like the cold, you can prevent the flu by strengthening your immune system and washing your hands regularly. Another prevention method is getting a flu vaccine. There are different types of vaccines, such as the Fluzone Quadrivalent or the Fluzone High-Dose. You can talk about the vaccine with a doctor.

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Sinus infections

Sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, are infections of the air pockets in your face, mainly around your nose and eyes. Sinusitis affects up to 31 million US adults each year.

Causes

Sinusitis occurs due to fluid building up in your sinuses. Viruses can cause sinusitis, but unlike colds and the flu, certain bacteria may also cause sinus infections.

The following factors can increase your risk of developing sinusitis:

• having a cold
• having allergies
• having asthma
• smoking (if you smoke)
• having structural changes in the bone

Unlike colds and the flu, you may not get a sinus infection in winter. It can happen at any time of year. So, if you’re getting symptoms in summer, this could be a clue that it’s sinusitis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a sinus infection can mimic those of a cold or flu, especially because it affects your nose. These symptoms include:

• runny or blocked nose
• cough
• headache
• pain or pressure in the face
• postnasal drip
• bad smelling breath

A sinus infection can last much longer than a cold or flu. Some infections last between 10 days and 8 weeks, while long lasting (chronic) infections may go on much longer.

Treatments

If a virus is causing a sinus infection, it will eventually get better on its own. Doctors can treat the symptoms with different medications, including:

• antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• decongestant such as Sudafed
• nasal steroid like ciclesonide (Zetonna)

If bacteria are the cause, doctors may prescribe an antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), although this is less common.

If you constantly develop sinusitis infections, a doctor might recommend surgery to repair the sinuses, reducing your likelihood of developing future infections.

Telling them apart

If you don’t know what’s affecting you, you should speak with a healthcare professional who can give you a proper diagnosis. This might not be necessary if your symptoms are mild.

There are some key things to consider that determine whether you have a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection.

• Symptoms: Cold symptoms are usually milder, while the flu is more likely to cause a fever and body chills. Sinusitis causes facial pressure postnasal drip, while the others don’t.
• Causes: You may catch a cold or the flu by a virus transmitted by someone with the infection, while sinus infections may be bacterial.
• Length of infection: Symptoms due to cold worsen after 3 days. A cold and the flu can last up to 2 weeks, whereas sinusitis can last for months.
• Time of year: Colds and the flu are seasonal, meaning they’re more common in the colder months. Sinus infections can happen at any time of the year.

Summary

Colds, the flu, and sinus infections can all have similar symptoms. You might notice a blocked or runny nose, a headache, and a cough with any of them. But there are key differences between them.

For example, different viruses cause them, and bacteria may cause some sinus infections. There is also some variation in their symptoms to look out for.

Importantly, they’re all treated differently, so if your symptoms are severe or not going away on their own, you should speak with a doctor for a correct diagnosis and treatment for you.

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