Cold, flu or COVID-19? How to tell
The symptoms can overlap, so experts say testing is the best way to determine which illness you have.
How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19?
The viruses that cause all three are spread the same way: through droplets from the noses and mouths of infected people. And they can all be spread before a person realizes they’re infected.
The time frame varies as to when someone with any of the illnesses will start feeling sick.
Meanwhile, some people infected with the coronavirus don’t experience symptoms, but it’s still possible for them to spread it.
Cough, fever, tiredness and muscle aches are common to both flu and COVID-19, according to Kristen Coleman, assistant research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Symptoms specific to COVID-19 include a loss of taste or smell.
Common colds, meanwhile, tend to be milder, with symptoms such as a stuffy nose and sore throat.
Fevers are more common with flu.
Experts say testing is the best way to determine which illness you have, since the symptoms can overlap.
Despite false portrayals online, the viruses have not merged to create a new illness. But it’s possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, a condition some are calling “flurona.”
“A co-infection of any kind can be severe or worsen your symptoms altogether,” says Coleman. “If influenza cases continue to rise, we can expect to see more of these types of viral co-infections in the coming weeks or months.”
With the many similar symptoms caused by the three virus types, testing remains the best option to determine which one you may have. At-home tests for flu aren’t as widely available as those for COVID-19, but some pharmacies offer testing for both viruses at the same time, Coleman notes. This can help doctors prescribe the right treatment.
Laboratories might also be able to screen samples for various respiratory viruses, including those associated with the common cold. But most do not have the capacity to routinely do this, especially during a COVID-19 surge, Coleman says.
Getting vaccinated helps reduce the spread of the viruses.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is safe to get a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccination or booster at the same time.