Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID-19?
Symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID-19 and even allergies can be similar. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health provide the following most common symptoms, all of which may vary from person to person. Please note that information continues to evolve about COVID-19.
| Symptoms & Signs | Allergies | Cold | Flu | COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom Timing | Gradual or chronic | Gradual | Symptoms typically appear 1-4 days after infection | Symptoms typically appear 5 days after infection, but can be as soon as 2 days and up to 14 days |
| Fever or feeling feverish | Never | Rare | Sometimes | Typical |
| Chills | Never | Uncommon | Typical | Typical |
| Headache | Uncommon | Uncommon | Typical | Typical |
| Muscle pain or body aches | Never | Slight | Typical | Typical |
| Fatigue | Sometimes | Sometimes | Typical | Typical |
| Cough | Sometimes | Mild to moderate | Typical | Typical |
| Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath | Unusual, except for conditions such as asthma | Uncommon | Typical | Typical |
| Sore throat | Sometimes | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Runny or stuffy nose | Common | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Typical | Common | Sometimes | Not common |
| Vomiting and diarrhea | Never | Rare | More common in children than adults | Typical |
| New Loss of taste or smell | Uncommon | Uncommon | Uncommon | Typical |
Colds, the flu and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses, and the difference can be undetectable by symptoms alone. Seek a test to confirm a diagnosis. Please don’t delay care.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
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