Is it a cold, the flu or COVID-19?

When you find yourself coughing or sniffling, the first question might be: Is it a simple cold, a miserable influenza or the highly contagious COVID-19? The question is important, because you may have different treatment options depending on which virus you have. 

The first step is to test for COVID-19. Home tests are readily available, and many insurance plans will even pay for a supply. This will be one of the quickest ways you can tell which illness you have. If it isn’t COVID-19, the cold and flu are fairly easy to tell apart, because the flu usually brings on all its symptoms at once, while a cold tends to gradually get worse. 

Know the signs

The National Institute on Aging suggests knowing the signs of all three to help keep you and your loved ones safe:  

1. Common symptoms of a cold: sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and cough. 
2. Common symptoms of the flu: fever and/or chills, headache, muscle pain or body aches, feeling tired or weak, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea. 
3. Common symptoms of COVID-19: fever and/or chills, headache, muscle pain or body aches, feeling tired or weak, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, vomiting and diarrhea, and change in or loss of taste or smell. 

The cold is easily distinguished by sneezing, which isn’t too common in flu or COVID-19. However, flu and COVID-19 can be difficult to discern. A loss of taste or smell is more common with COVID-19.  

Both the flu and COVID-19 can be serious, especially in older adults or those with weakened immune systems. If you’re having difficulty breathing, seek emergency help — don’t put it off. Chest pain or pressure, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake and pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds are also a sign that you may not be getting all the oxygen you need.  

Not sure it’s an emergency? If you test positive for COVID-19 and are an older adult or someone who is at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, treatment is available. The CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider right away after a positive test to determine if you are eligible, even if your symptoms are mild. Flu antiviral medication may also be available, but only if started soon after your symptoms appear. If your flu symptoms are mild, over-the-counter medications, plus lots of rest and fluids, can help you ride it out. 

The other important step to take before you get sick is to get vaccinated. Your local pharmacy can provide both COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines. These may prevent you from getting sick, and if you have the misfortune to contract one of these viruses despite getting vaccinated, your immune system will be ready to fend it off quicker so your symptoms and the length of the illness are shorter.