The seasons are changing, the nights are getting colder and clearly winter is looming — and unfortunately with winter, so looms the flu bug.

Each year approximately 500 million people are affected across the globe with five percent of those being severe cases and one percent (500 000) resulting in fatality. A further five to 20 percent will suffer other complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

Though people often confuse a common cold and influenza (flu), the actual effects are quite different and easy to distinguish if you know your facts.

Both flu's and colds are highly contagious viral illnesses that attack the respiratory system and enter the body through the nose, mouth and eyes, and are both spread by coughing and sneezing.

The two viruses are different though and everyone is at risk of both. A virus can only multiply and reproduce upon infecting a living cell — the cells that line our airways are particularly vulnerable to viruses due to not being covered by a protective layer of skin.

Death by flu mostly occurs in the elderly (over 65) or children (under five) or those who suffer from chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes. It can also be more dangerous for people with immune deficiency diseases such as HIV.

Otherwise, the majority of healthy people may have to stay in bed for a week or two but should be able to fight the virus off with plenty of rest, water and some help from your local pharmacy.

Common cold facts:

Symptoms include: sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, you may develop a phlegm-y, hacking cough and have slight aches. Symptoms appear gradually and last for a few days, normally two to three days — and those symptoms that do appear are not severe. The common cold cannot be prevented by any medicines, though symptoms can be treated.

Flu facts:

Flu affects one in 10 adults and one in three children. Symptoms include: fever, aches (often severe), dry unproductive cough, extreme tiredness, chills, chest discomfort (can be severe), headaches, or you may also have a sore throat.

Sneezing and a runny or stuffy nose are quite uncommon with flu. Symptoms appear suddenly, within a matter of hours and continue for two to three weeks. Flu is much more serious, symptoms are severe and can be debilitating.

The Flu jab may prevent the onset of flu symptoms in up to 80 percent of people if vaccinated early in the cold season.

Antivirals can be prescribed by your doctor; they could lessen symptoms, could make you less contagious and could considerably shorten the duration of infection — though you need to begin treatment within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. Symptoms are also treatable with OTC products from your pharmacy.

Prevention and treatment:

Prevention is of course better than cure so healthy habits such as eating a well balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables really do wonders for your immune system.

Wash hands with soap frequently and use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing — this will also help prevent the spreading of colds and flu. It's also a good idea to boost your immune system at the onset of winter with vitamin C.

Over the counter remedies such as:

The flu vaccine is available at your nearest Clicks+ Clinic all year round.