Cold is the common cold, commonly known as “cold”; influenza is short for influenza, although the two names are similar, but their pathogenic and epidemiological characteristics are different. The pathogens of influenza are complex and diverse, with a variety of viruses, mycoplasma and a few bacteria that can cause colds, mainly caused by rhinovirus, coronavirus and parainfluenza virus, and there are more than 100 types of rhinovirus alone. Each attack can be caused by a different pathogen, so it can happen all year round. These viruses exist in the patient’s respiratory tract and are spread by droplets emitted when the patient coughs or sneezes, especially when the patient sneezes, spreading around at a speed of 103 meters per second, so people around are easily infected, and the virus itself has strong adaptability and can be widely attached to walls, clothing and hands. The common cold is much less contagious than the influenza, and it is usually easy to get it only after getting cold, getting wet, or being overly tired because of the decrease in resistance. Therefore, the common cold tends to appear individually, and rarely appears in batches, as in the case of influenza epidemics. Influenza is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by the influenza virus. The virus is present in the patient’s respiratory tract and is transmitted to others via droplets when the patient coughs or sneezes. Winter and spring are the times when influenza tends to be rampant, and 20-40% of people may catch it each time. Influenza viruses are characterized by the fact that they mutate easily and generate new strains of viruses through constant mutation; influenza is highly contagious, and even if a person has had influenza, he or she will still be infected the next time there is an influenza epidemic, so influenza can easily cause an epidemic. The incubation period of influenza is about 1 day, and the onset of the disease is not urgent. It starts with some dryness, fever and itchiness in the nose and throat, followed by symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, dry cough and hoarseness; sometimes there are also systemic symptoms such as chills, fatigue, headache and backache, and loss of appetite. The body temperature is usually not high, mostly low fever, around 38℃, and may reach about 39℃ if combined with secondary bacterial infection. After 2-3 days of onset, the amount of nasal discharge gradually decreases and turns thick, and the cough is reduced and finally disappears. The symptoms of common cold are milder than those of influenza and there is no concern for life. The incubation period of influenza ranges from a few hours to 2 days, usually one day, and rarely 3 days. In most cases, the onset of influenza is sudden, with symptoms such as chills and chills, followed by fever and a rise in body temperature above 39°C, and upper respiratory symptoms such as headache, generalized aches and pains, fatigue, dry throat, sore throat, cough, sputum, and runny nose. In general, flu patients have more systemic symptoms and less respiratory symptoms. Generally, high fever lasts for 3-5 days before the body temperature gradually returns to normal, and its symptoms are more severe than those of the common cold. Influenza is a respiratory infection that poses a serious health risk. Most colds and flu are viral diseases, and there are still no effective antiviral treatment drugs, but they are self-limiting diseases, which means that they will be cured naturally in a week or so if you pay attention to rest and drink more water. When you have a common cold, just pay attention to the symptomatic treatment, the initial symptoms of runny nose, sneezing can take drugs such as Contec; cough, coughing and other symptoms can choose expectorant and cough medicine; appear high fever, you can take some antipyretic drugs symptomatic treatment. The patient can be treated with antelope cold tablets, cold flush, silver forsythia tablets, etc. as appropriate. Patients are advised to rest, drink more water, take steam baths, or wash their feet with hot water, all of which can promote early recovery from colds. Patients with the common cold do not need to apply antibiotic treatment unless they have bacterial infections. For patients with influenza, they should rest in bed, give easily digestible and absorbable food, drink more water, and take oseltamivir (trade name: Tamiflu), which is a specific anti-influenza virus drug, within 3 days of the onset of influenza. You can also take compound aspirin (i.e., APPC), silver warp antidote tablets and other drugs. If there is high fever and dehydration, glucose saline infusion can be given; if there is pneumonia, heart failure or coma and convulsions, corresponding treatment should be given. Pay attention to prevent comorbidities in case of influenza. Whether it is a cold or flu, the most important thing is prevention. Protect yourself from cold and warmth, strengthen your physical exercise, enhance your body resistance, and do not go to densely populated public places during the winter and spring epidemic seasons Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection, so gatherings or mass events should be avoided in areas where influenza is prevalent. People should wear masks when they go out during influenza epidemic to reduce the chance of infection. It is advisable to open the windows indoors for ventilation and to wash and dry clothes and bedding frequently. Early influenza vaccination is an effective prevention method if possible.