ELI5, why do viruses and bacteria have many of the same symptoms when they infect a human?

Question

Soar throat, sniffles, sneezes, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea- any combination of these could be covid, flu, common cold, adenovirus, astrovitus, strep, etc

In: 2

Answer 1

The symptoms you feel are caused by your body fighting the viruses. Fever is your body heating up to try to overheat and kill the virus. Vomit/Diarrhea is your body getting rid of whatever you ate via the nearest exit, mouth/butt. Snot, sneezing, etc is your sinus creating a mucus layer of protection to try and catch and remove the illness. Coughing is when that mucus makes it into your lungs.