How quickly do symptoms appear with the flu compared to a cold?

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. The flu tends to have a quicker onset of symptoms compared to a cold. According to the medical literature, flu symptoms typically start 1 to 4 days after being infected. This means you can start feeling sick quite soon after catching the flu virus.

In contrast, cold symptoms generally develop more slowly. While the exact timing can vary, cold symptoms often take a few days longer to appear compared to the flu. The flu can hit suddenly, making you feel very sick in a short amount of time, whereas a cold usually starts more gradually.

Understanding the difference in how quickly symptoms appear can help in distinguishing between the two illnesses. If you start feeling very sick very quickly, it might be more likely to be the flu rather than a common cold.