There are many options to alleviate cold and flu symptoms, including over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications — and it’s important to know the difference.

Common colds tend to come on gradually. Flu, on the other hand, is likelier to hit you suddenly—and hard. You might have a slightly elevated temperature with a cold, but it probably won’t hit ...

Though symptoms of a cold and the flu are similar, key differences set them apart. The two illnesses develop at different rates, with colds often beginning slowly and the flu taking hold more quickly.