1 of 2 / Common Cold
View AllWhat Is a Cold?
A cold begins when a virus attaches to the lining of your nose or throat.
What's Causing My Cold?
Cold viruses have a lot in common, but each type has its own style, too.
Is It a Common Cold or Allergies?
It's a question that puzzles lots of folks when symptoms hit: Is all that coughing and sneezing from a cold or hay fever?
What Puts You at Risk for the Common Cold?
2 of 2 / Flu (Influenza)
View AllDo You Have a Cold or Flu?
Do you feel under the weather and wonder if you're sick with the flu or a cold?
Flu Test: How to Find the Virus
A doctor can usually tell if you have the flu based on your symptoms, especially if it’s during peak season.
Bird Flu (H5N1)
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral infection spread from bird to bird. The most common kind is the H5N1 strain.
Swine Flu (H1N1)
While swine flu isn't as scary as it seemed a few years ago, it's still important to protect yourself from getting it.
Suggested Reads about Cold and Flu
How to Stop Nighttime Coughing
Nighttime coughs may affect your sleep quality. Learn tips for relief so you can get the rest you need for healing.
Relief for Sinus Congestion
Stock your medicine cabinet and try these tips to reduce sinus pain and pressure.
Signs It Could Be More Than a Cold
Learn how to tell if you have just a run-of-the-mill cold or something else, like the flu, allergies, bronchitis, sinusitis, or pneumonia.
What to Eat -- and Avoid -- When You Have a Cold
What you eat and drink when you have a cold can affect how you feel and how long you’re sick. Find out from WebMD which foods can help and hurt.
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