The cold facts on Influenza

Get your facts straight and protect yourself from viruses this flu season. Understanding the cause can help you stay healthy and recover faster.

Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a variety of viruses. The flu differs in several ways from the common cold, a respiratory infection also caused by viruses. For example, people with colds rarely get fevers or headaches or suffer from the extreme exhaustion that flu viruses cause.