Do I Have COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, or Something Else?

It’s not always easy to distinguish between COVID-19, the flu, a cold, and other viral infections, but recognizing the illness is essential for knowing when to seek treatment.

Manzoor Kazi, MD, and our Palm Desert Urgent Care team specialize in urgent care in the Coachella Valley for these contagious and sometimes dangerous conditions. We’re available to help whether you need a prompt appointment or have questions about your symptoms.

Here, you’ll learn the similarities and differences that will help you decide if your symptoms are likely due to COVID-19, the flu, a cold, or another condition.

Symptoms that COVID-19, the flu, and a cold share

COVID-19, the flu, and common colds are respiratory infections caused by viruses. They also typically peak in the fall and winter and share a few similar symptoms.

No matter which one you have, you may experience these symptoms:

• Cough
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Sore throat

A cold may also cause sneezing, which is not typical for flu or COVID-19. Occasionally, a cold can make you feel tired or cause mild achiness. Otherwise, this list covers the primary symptoms of a cold.

The most significant difference between the three conditions is that COVID-19 and the flu cause additional symptoms.

Additional COVID-19 and flu symptoms

Determining whether you have COVID-19 or the flu is more challenging. Both can cause mild to severe illness and may lead to severe complications and hospitalization.

While there are a few telltale differences, they both cause similar symptoms, including:

• Fever (with or without chills)
• Muscle pain (body aches)
• Headaches
• Earache
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue or feeling weak
• Shortness of breath

Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath) is a severe symptom and a red flag telling you to seek immediate medical care.

Telltale differences between COVID-19 and the flu

Several differences can help you identify whether you have the flu or COVID-19:

Symptom onset

Flu symptoms develop quickly. You can feel fine today, then be incredibly sick two days later. By comparison, COVID-19 tends to develop gradually.

Loss of smell and taste

Congestion caused by COVID-19 or the flu (or a cold) may temporarily decrease your senses of smell and taste, but the same problem often occurs differently in COVID-19.

Loss of smell is one of the earliest signs of a COVID-19 infection. Most importantly, this symptom can appear without congestion.

The COVID-19 virus attacks sensory cells, preventing information from reaching the brain. As a result, you lose the sense of smell.

Skin changes

COVID-19 may cause a skin rash that appears during your illness or up to a month later. Rashes are possible but rarely caused by the flu.

Some people with COVID-19 have swelling and skin discoloration in their fingers or toes. The flu does not cause this problem.

Confusion

Confusion and disorientation (delirium) are early signs of COVID-19 in older adults. Delirium can appear rapidly, even with few (or no) respiratory symptoms. People with confusion have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Two conditions confused with a cold, flu, and COVID-19

There are two conditions easily confused with a cold or the flu and COVID-19:

Seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies and colds cause a runny or stuffy nose and sneezing. But eye symptoms are common with allergies and rarely accompany colds.

Another difference is that colds improve within a week, while allergies can last for weeks (as long as pollen, mold, or other allergens are in the air).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

RSV is another viral infection affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. Though RSV causes a mild illness in most people, it’s dangerous and often life-threatening for young children and older adults.

RSV typically resembles a cold but may cause symptoms associated with the flu and COVID-19. You may experience:

• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Loss of appetite
• Coughing
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing
• Rapid or difficulty breathing

Young infants may be irritable, inactive, stop feeding, and have trouble breathing.

A fever, wheezing, and difficulty breathing are signs of a severe infection needing immediate medical care.

Treatment may help

The only treatments available for a cold are medications to ease symptoms like congestion, sneezing, and coughing.

But we can prescribe antiviral medications to reduce the symptoms of flu and COVID-19. These medications are only effective if you take them shortly after your symptoms appear.

You must take COVID-19 medications within 5-7 days. Antiviral medicines for the flu are most effective within two days but may help if started later.

Call us at Palm Desert Urgent Care in Palm Desert, California, or request an appointment through online booking as soon as you recognize symptoms of the flu or COVID-19 or need help with a cold.