How to tell if you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19

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How to tell if you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19

Cooler temperatures and the start of the school year signal the start of seasonal sicknesses. Viruses that cause common colds and the flu will mix with COVID-19 and make it difficult to know what’s making you ill. Gundersen’s infection preventionists Megan Meller and Meghan Buechel help you tell them apart.

What are the symptoms of a cold, the flu and COVID-19?

Cold symptoms include:

• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat

COVID-19 and the flu share symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Headache Vomiting or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (more common with COVID-19)
• Change in loss of taste or smell (more common with COVID-19)

Am I at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 or flu?

Let’s be clear: Both COVID-19 and flu can result in severe illness, complications, hospitalizations and even death. What’s scary about COVID-19 is that healthy people with no known risk factors can get seriously ill. We don’t know yet why some people get really sick from COVID-19 and others don’t.

High-risk groups for flu complications:

• Adults 65 years and older
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 2 years old
• Adults with chronic health conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and immunocompromised

High-risk groups for COVID-19 complications:

• Adults 65 years and older
• People with certain underlying medical conditions
• Pregnant women

Some of my symptoms match each virus. How do I know what I’m sick with?

Getting tested for COVID-19 and the flu is the easiest way to narrow down what might be making you sick.

You should get immediate emergency care if you have:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

What are the treatment options for a common cold, or mild cases of the flu or COVID-19?

Decongestants, saline rinses and pain relivers can help with symptom relief. You should also:

• Drink lots of water, juice, or broth to replace fluids lost from a fever
• Use a cool mist humidifier to help ease congestion and coughing
• Prop yourself with 2 or 3 pillows to make it easier to breathe or sleep
• Limit the level and frequency of physical activity

What are the treatment options for flu?

Some people may benefit from a flu antiviral to speed recovery, especially if they are at higher risk of complications. Antivirals are not sold over the counter and must be given within 48 hours from when symptoms begin. Talk to your medical provider to see if antiviral treatment is right for you.

What are the treatment options for COVID-19?

For people at high risk of disease progression, your healthcare provider might recommend that you receive additional treatment. They will decide whether additional treatments are appropriate for you.

Is there anything I can do to protect myself from serious illness, hospitalization or worse?

Get vaccinated. It’s that simple. The COVID-19 vaccines are available now to everyone 12 and older. Flu shots are now available during some clinic appointments, while Gundersen will hold its annual flu shot clinics later this fall. You can receive both vaccines at the same time, although we recommend the COVID-19 vaccine immediately. Visit gundersenhealth.org in the coming months for full details on our flu clinics.

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Cold, Flu or COVID-19? Here’s How to Tell the Difference

This article was updated on September 16, 2021.

You wake up one morning feeling under the weather. While in previous years you may have chalked up a sore throat or body aches to a run-of-the-mill cold or flu, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic adds a new element of concern to getting sick.

“There is significant overlap between symptoms of influenza and COVID,” said Laraine Washer, medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology at Michigan Medicine. “Both can present with fevers, chills, cough, muscle/body aches, fatigue and headache.” Here, Washer offers advice to follow during this unique cold and flu season.

Is it a cold, the flu or COVID?

Cold symptoms are mild and the common cold tends not to be associated with fever or headache. 

Congestion/runny nose is common for the common cold and would be uncommon to be the only symptom for influenza. Congestion/runny nose can be a symptom of a COVID infection and might be the only symptom in mild cases.

SEE ALSO: Seeking Medical Care During COVID-19

Flu symptoms are often of rapid onset.  COVID symptoms can be of rapid or more gradual onset. 

Says Washer, one symptom that is more unique to a COVID infection is the loss of taste or smell. And symptoms from the delta variant are similar to prior versions of COVID.

Should I get a test?

Washer says that in many settings, the only way to tell the difference between COVID and influenza is by testing. “The differentiation can be very important as there are isolation requirements to prevent transmission of COVID and antivirals that can be used for influenza,” she explained.

If you have fever/chills, new cough or new shortness of breath, you should stay home and arrange to be tested for COVID.

If you have two or more of the following symptoms: 

• headache,

• new muscle aches,

• new upper respiratory symptoms (congestions, runny nose, sore throat),

• new loss of taste or smell, new nausea/vomiting/diarrhea,

• or new rash,

you should consider COVID testing, even if you’ve been vaccinated. If you have had a known close contact exposure to someone with COVID, you should be tested even if you have one mild symptom.  If you are a Michigan Medicine patient, you can call the COVID hotline (734-763-6336). There is a low threshold for COVID testing given risk of transmission to others.  Once influenza season begins, your doctor may also wish to test you for flu.

Should I call the doctor?

If you have any chronic medical conditions, are over the age of 65, or are not vaccinated, you are at higher risk of getting a severe COVID infection and should call your doctor. Call your doctor for a fever that does not go down with fever reducing medicine (do not use aspirin as it is contraindicated in influenza) or any severe symptoms or symptoms that get worse over time.

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Should I go to the emergency room?

Go the emergency department if you have chest pain or pressure, confusion, difficulty breathing or blue discoloration to your lips or face.

And while social distancing and masking reduced flu last year, that may not be the case this year.

Last year, “flu and other respiratory illnesses were reduced in the Southern Hemisphere, whose flu season typically stretches from May to November,” said Washer. However, there is already a moderate to high level of influenza circulating in some U.S. states, so there will likely be significantly more cases of the flu this winter compared to last year.

The flu shot and COVID vaccine

Getting a flu shot this year is particularly important to reduce the potential for a twin pandemic of influenza and COVID, which could further overwhelm the healthcare system. The flu vaccine has been updated this year to better match circulating strains. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you get the flu shot before the end of October, but it’s never too late to get one. Plus, if you haven’t gotten your COVID vaccine yet, you can get one at the same time as your flu shot.

Added Dr. Washer, “Continue to social distance, avoid large gatherings and wear your mask! And get and use a thermometer.”

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Wellness & Prevention

covid-19

infectious disease

symptoms and treatment of the disease, the cause of constant aches and severe runny nose with a cold

10/12/2021

3 minutes

84 961

Contents

• Colds with and without fever
• Thermometry and fevers
• Cold treatment

The onset of the cold season means the arrival of the cold season. This is facilitated by weather conditions, as well as an increase in the time a person spends in a confined space, in contact with other people. What determines what symptoms the infection will have? Why in some cases do adults have all the symptoms of a cold, but it proceeds without fever? Why does this happen, and how does the treatment change in this case? We will try to understand and answer these questions in this article.

Colds with and without fever

A healthy person has the ability to maintain a constant body temperature, regardless of its fluctuations in the external environment. In the case of exposure to pathogenic stimuli, the processes of thermoregulation are rearranged in such a way as to increase the immunological defense of the body and prevent the reproduction of viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. This results in fever. Does this mean that a cold without fever is bad? Given that increased heat production leads to the activation of phagocytosis, an increase in the synthesis of interferons and stimulation of the synthesis of antibodies, we can say that the body did not respond sufficiently to the infectious agent. ¹

A cold without fever occurs in the elderly or immunocompromised people. Sometimes this happens if a person is constantly taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for a chronic disease. In these cases, cold symptoms may be limited to weakness, runny nose, sore throat, body aches without fever. It should be noted that subjective sensations during fever are of a different nature. Some people are sensitive to even a little heat, while others do not experience discomfort with significant values. Therefore, it is possible to say that a cold occurs without an increase in body temperature only after measuring it.

Thermometry and types of fever

In our country, it is customary to take thermometry with a mercury thermometer in the armpit, although some experts believe that the most accurate data can be obtained by measuring in the oral cavity under the tongue. When using an electronic thermometer, it must be remembered that after the signal it cannot be taken out immediately, because it is supplied when the rate of temperature change only decreases. If you are measuring in the mouth, then remember that the readings can be 0.3-0.6 ° C higher than in the armpit. ²

Depending on the level of fever, the following types of fever are distinguished:

Even if a cold occurs without fever, it is still possible to assess its severity. To do this, you need to focus on the general condition. Severe weakness, intense pain, prolonged cough, shortness of breath, swollen lymph nodes – all these symptoms require a mandatory visit to the doctor.

Cold treatment

What should I do if I have a cold without fever? Treatment of SARS consists in combating its manifestations, which, in addition to fever, may include headaches and muscle pain, runny nose, nasal congestion, discomfort or sore throat, etc. To alleviate the condition, certain rules must be followed:

In the treatment of a cold without fever, you can use drugs that are usually prescribed to eliminate the symptoms of SARS that occur with fever. An example of such a tool is Coldrex. Thanks to the components included in its composition, it has not only an antipyretic effect, but also analgesic, anti-inflammatory, decongestant. Each sachet of Coldrex contains paracetamol, phenylephrine and vitamin C in optimal dosages. This combination of components allows you to treat the symptoms of a cold that occurs without fever.

Paracetamol relieves most types of pain, including those caused by intoxication – joint, headache, muscle. Vitamin C enhances the body’s immune defense [6]. Phenylephrine acts on the alpha-adrenergic receptors of the nasal mucosa, reducing swelling and making breathing easier. Among the preparations of the Coldrex line, everyone will be able to choose the one that suits him in terms of dosage, taste and aroma.

Tags

Temperature

References

1. Juan José González Plaza, Nataša Hulak, Zhaxybay Zhumadilov and Ainur Akilzhanova/ Fever as an important resource for infectious diseases research/ Intractable Rare Dis Res. May 2016; 5(2): 97–102/
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
2. Vasilenko V.V. / Measurement of body temperature / Regular issues of “BC” No. 29 dated 12/25/2008.-p. 1948/
   https://www.rmj.ru/
3. Fugol D.S. / Increased body temperature in children and approaches to its correction / Regular issues of “BC” No. 24 of 09.10.2013 p. 1178/
   https://www.rmj.ru/articles/pediatriya/
4. Instructions for use of Coldrex HotRem Menthol.
5. Shikh EV/Vitamins with antioxidant properties in the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections in children/ Problems of modern pediatrics. 2013;12(4):142-147/
   https://vsp.spr-journal.ru/jour/

Useful information

Coldrex for colds

Nobody expects a cold “to visit”: it always comes unexpectedly and can easily disrupt your plans.

Learn more

SARS: signs, symptoms and treatment

Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common diseases in all people, regardless of age and gender.

Learn more

Colds: signs, symptoms and treatment

The unpleasant symptoms of the common cold are familiar to everyone: nasal congestion, “itchy” throat and a feeling of weakness. They can easily spoil the mood and change important plans.

Learn more

Prevention of colds, flu and ARVI

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) or the common cold, as we used to call them, are the most common diseases in our country.

Learn more

What to do at the first sign of a cold

Traditionally, a cold is an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), which has a mild course, often associated with the general hypothermia of the body.

Learn more

Influenza: signs, symptoms and treatment

Influenza is an acute respiratory illness that can affect the upper and lower respiratory tract.

Learn more

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Sore throat can be described by: “ my throat hurts “, “ my throat hurts “, “ rips “, “ burns” , or even “ hurts ‘s throat”. In most cases, we are talking about discomfort in the throat caused by the inflammatory process.

Sore throat is one of the most common complaints. Few of us can boast that they have never had a sore throat. The pain in the throat can be severe, sharp, shooting, or it can be manifested by a moderate burning sensation or discomfort that is observed constantly or only when swallowing or talking. When complaining of a sore throat, the examination usually reveals redness of the throat and its swelling.

Why does my throat hurt?

Bacteria and viruses constantly attack our body. They enter us with air and food. Any infection that has penetrated this way can become the causative agent of a sore throat.

With the infectious nature of the disease, sore throat is usually only one of the symptoms. Along with a sore throat, you may experience:

• runny nose;
• cough;
• headache;
• fever, chills, increased sweating;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• skin rash;
• weakness, loss of appetite.

The most common cause of sore throat is a viral infection. In this case, the inflammation develops gradually, and the severity of the symptoms increases accordingly.

A sore throat can be caused by the following viral diseases:

• SARS;
• influenza;
• mononucleosis;
• measles;
• varicella;
• some other viral diseases.

If the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the sore throat begins suddenly and immediately in a severe form. The most common bacterial throat infection is streptococcal infection.

If a person has nasal breathing for some reason and is forced to breathe through his mouth, discomfort in the throat can be caused by direct exposure to the atmosphere. The air may be too dry or cold, contain smoke, dust particles, harmful chemical compounds. As a result, the mucous membrane dries up, becomes irritated, there is a feeling of discomfort, pain, cough. Many substances sometimes found in the air are allergens. And in the case of a tendency to allergic diseases, the presence of such substances (for example, plant pollen, the smallest particles of animal hair, etc.) in the air inhaled can cause sore throat.

When sore throat is one of the main symptoms

(as a rule, in these cases, sore throat is accompanied by fever)

Diseases in which sore throat is the main or typical symptom:

• pharyngitis – inflammation of the pharynx. In the throat, dryness and perspiration are felt, it becomes painful to swallow, the temperature rises (up to 37.5-38 ° C). Often develops against the background of a runny nose;
• angina (tonsillitis) – inflammation of the palatine tonsils. It is characterized by severe pain in the throat, most pronounced when swallowing, a sharp rise in temperature to 38 ° C and above, swelling and redness of the tonsils. Submandibular lymph nodes increase, general weakness is observed;
• paratonsillar abscess – inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the tonsils. Usually develops as a complication of tonsillitis or streptococcal pharyngitis. It is characterized by the resumption of sore throat, severe and “shooting”, high temperature – up to 39 ° C, an increase in the tonsil on one side;
• laryngitis – inflammation of the larynx. Laryngitis is characterized by a sore throat, cough, and pain when swallowing.

Other possible causes of sore throat

Why the throat may hurt when there is no temperature

There are other possible causes of a sore throat:

• mechanical injury;
• overexertion of the muscles of the larynx and pharynx;
• glossopharyngeal neuralgia;
• entry of stomach contents into the esophageal cavity;
• tumor processes;
• with thyroid diseases, pain may be felt when swallowing;
• pain in the throat can be felt with angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, as well as with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (in this case, there is no increase in pain when swallowing).

In these cases, sore throat is usually not accompanied by fever and other characteristic symptoms of acute respiratory infections (patients complain of sore throat without fever).

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Sore throat: when should you see a doctor?

If your throat suddenly began to bother you, but the temperature does not rise, and there are no other frightening symptoms, it makes sense to try to cope with home remedies (warm drinks, gargling). But if it was not possible to defeat the sore throat in two days, you should consult a doctor. You should not try to replace professional medicine and choose your own medicine.

It is categorically unacceptable to resort to antibiotics without an appropriate prescription from a doctor. If your illness is caused by a virus (and the common cold, often accompanied by pharyngitis, is usually a viral illness), then antibiotics will not help, but rather, they will only weaken the body by destroying beneficial bacteria.

At the same time, against the background of a viral infection, pathogenic bacteria can also become more active. And in this case, the use of antibacterial drugs may be indicated. Only a doctor can correctly determine the cause of the disease, make a diagnosis and choose an effective course of treatment. Similarly, the fact that the throat is healthy – in cases where pain in the throat is caused by a disease of other organs, can only become an ENT doctor.

You should always see a doctor if:

• sore throat does not go away within two days with home treatment;
• pain very severe, difficulty swallowing or opening mouth;
• pain is accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature;
• sore throat accompanied by skin rash;
• Throat discomfort and pain returns easily. In this case, patients usually complain that the throat hurts constantly. Such complaints, as a rule, indicate the presence of a chronic form of the disease – chronic tonsillitis or chronic pharyngitis).

Which doctor should I contact if I have a sore throat?

In case of acute pain against the background of a temperature, call a doctor at home (a therapist or pediatrician leaves if the child is sick). With a complaint of a sore throat, you can also make an appointment with an ENT doctor at any of the Family Doctor’s polyclinics.

Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

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Answers to patients’ questions

Temperature 37.2, sore throat, cough and runny nose started. Is it worth it to bring down such a temperature or what …

Shenker Maria Olegovna ,
Therapist

Good afternoon
I recommend that you either go to a face-to-face appointment with a general practitioner or call a doctor.