Getting a cold in the winter is more common because viruses spread easier in crowded indoor spaces and the weather can also weaken the immune response in the nose, making it harder to fight off germs.

Now it's one thing having a blocked nose and slight cough, but often people mistake their illness for a cold, rather than the flu. Symptoms for a flu are usually more severe as you might experience a fever, headache and muscle aches, as well as a dry cough and sore throat. Meanwhile, a cold has symptoms peaking in 2-3 days, with a recovery taking around a week or so.

And with a super flu wrecking havoc across the UK, it's never been more important to know the difference between a cold and flu. According to Berkshire NHS, who boasts 17,100 followers on TikTok, there are three differences between the two illnesses.

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In a caption, the community NHS trust said: "Cold and flu symptoms are similar but flu tends to be more severe. The flu vaccine helps protect against flu. Visit the NHS website to find out more."

The video shows an NHS worker revealing three symptoms as she walks to the correct answer. The first was the flu appears quickly within a few hours, while a cold would affect mainly your nose and throat.

As for the final sign, a flu can make you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal.

A flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill so it's important to get a vaccine if you're advised and to practice safe distancing to prevent passing on your germs.

What are the symptoms of a flu?

• A sudden high temperature


• An aching body


• Feeling tired or exhausted


• A dry cough


• A sore throat


• A headache


• Difficulty sleeping


• Loss of appetite


• Diarrhoea or tummy pain


• Feeling sick and being sick

What are the symptoms of a cold?

• A blocked or runny nose


• Sneezing


• A sore throat


• A hoarse voice


• A cough


• Feeling tired and unwell


• A high temperature


• Aching muscles


• A loss of taste and smell


• A feeling of pressure in your ears and face

Generally you can treat a cold without seeing a GP, you should begin to feel better in about 1-2 weeks with symptoms coming on over 2-3 days.

It's worth noting symptoms of a cold can last longer in a young child. They might be more irritable and have difficulty eating and sleeping. They would probably breathe through their mouth and get sick after coughing.

Make sure you get plenty of rest around the Christmas holidays (if you can), drink lots of fluids and eat healthy food to prevent any illness.