Difference Between Cold, Flu and COVID-19

Cold, flu, and COVID-19 are all respiratory diseases and have similar symptoms. At the outset, it may seem that they are alike, but there are some distinct differences that will help you tell them apart. They are all caused by different viruses belonging to the coronavirus family, but there are clear differences in their onset, progress, and severity.

This comparison chart will help you differentiate them.

Fever	Rare	Common	Common
Cough	Mild- moderate	Common	Common
Shortness of breath	Mild	Sometimes	Common
Trouble breathing	Rare	Rare	Common
Respiratory issues	Sometimes	Sometimes	Common
Fatigue	Sometimes	Common	Common
Runny nose	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
Nasal congestion	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
Diarrhea	Rare	Sometimes	Sometimes
Body aches	Slight	Common	Sometimes
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes
Headache	Rare	Common	Sometimes
Loss of appetite	Sometimes	Common	Sometimes
Chills	Uncommon	Fairly common	Sometimes
New loss of taste and smell	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes

 

A runny nose, nasal congestion, and sore throat are common symptoms of a cold, but are not common in the Flu and COVID-19. Flu and COVID-19 both present symptoms such as fever of over 100°F and cough, but with COVID-19 19 you get a severe dry cough. The one defining symptom of COVID-19 is severe shortness of breath.

Respiratory Issues are Common Only in COVID-19

While some symptoms may be common to cold, flu, and COVID-19, respiratory issues are seen only in COVID-19. In 80% of the infected people, COVID-19 causes only mild or no symptoms. In about 15%, the symptoms may require hospitalization, and about 5% may require ICU care.

Coronavirus can lead to severe COVID-19, which could cause pneumonia, respiratory failure, septic shock, and death. If you have any of the symptoms (especially trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, bluish lips or face, or inability to wake up fully), please seek medical help immediately.

If you do not have any symptoms, prevent infection by staying home, regularly washing hands with soap for about 20 seconds, wearing a mask when going out, and staying at least 6 feet away from other people.

COVID-19 can be prevented. Let’s stay separate and work together to stop the virus.