Colds and the flu

Illustration of airway structure
It is often hard to tell the difference between a cold and a flu. Most people who think they have the flu actually have a less serious respiratory tract infection. What's the difference between a cold and the flu? Does drinking lots of fluids help when you have a respiratory tract infection? And how can you lower your risk of infection? Test your knowledge here!
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Updated on December 11, 2023

Next planned update: 2026

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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