### Human:\nwhat's the difference between the common cold and the flu?\n\n### Assistant: flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. flu symptoms often mimic cold symptoms with nasal congestion cough aches and malaise. but a common cold rarely has symptoms of fever above 101 degrees. with flu symptoms you will probably have a fever initially with the flu virus and you will feel miserable. body and muscle aches are also more common with the flu.