Breaking down the difference between a cold and influenza

  • Breaking down the difference between a cold and influenza
    Breaking down the difference between a cold and influenza

    DEAR DR. ROACH: What is the difference between a cold and the flu? -- A.T.R.

    ANSWER: Both colds and influenza (the “flu”) are respiratory illnesses that are caused by viruses. Influenza is caused specifically by the influenza viruses, which come in two main types (A and B). Influenza A is further broken down into different subtypes based on hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).

    H1N1 and H3N2 are …