There are many different strains of both influenza and the common cold, but all appear to flourish during the winter months. The instances of cold and flu in the UK usually peak between October and February each year. There are usually several strains circulating at once, but the symptoms caused are often similar.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-tell-the-differences-between-winter-viruses-in-kids