Healthy Living
Cold, Flu or COVID-19?
Symptoms of a cold, flu and COVID-19 can be similar. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides 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 | Cold | Flu | COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom Timing | 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 | Rare | Sometimes | Typical |
| Chills | Uncommon | Typical | Typical |
| Headache | Uncommon | Typical | Typical |
| Muscle pain or body aches | Slight | Typical | Typical |
| Fatigue | Sometimes | Typical | Typical |
| Cough | Mild to moderate | Typical | Typical |
| Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath | Uncommon | Typical | Typical |
| Sore throat | Common | Sometimes | Typical |
| Runny or stuffy nose | Common | Sometimes | Typical |
| Sneezing | Common | Sometimes | Not common |
| Vomiting and diarrhea | Rare | More common in children than adults | Typical |
| New loss of taste or smell | Uncommon | Sometimes | 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. Protect your community by staying home and avoiding interactions within 6 feet of others when experiencing any of the above symptoms. Please don’t delay care.
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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