With coronavirus cases beginning to rise once again in the UK, the country could be facing a bleak winter, with cases of the novel respiratory disease now circulating alongside the annual flu.
Unfortunately, despite flu and Covid-19 being caused by different viruses, a number of coronavirus symptoms match with those of the flu, making it hard to identify what illness you may have. Here's a reminder of each:
Symptoms of Cold and Flu
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Coughs
- Sore muscles
- Sneezing
- Subdued temperature (the flu can result in a temperature of 38C or above)
- No pacers at the London Marathon 2021
- Difficulty sleeping
Coronavirus Symptoms:
- A loss or change to their sense of smell or taste
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As you'll notice, there are a few common symptoms between Covid-19 and the flu, including a high temperature and coughing. So, it's important to know which symptom matches which illness. Here are five simple ways to tell:
#1 Sneezing
No pacers at the London Marathon 2021 not a symptom of coronavirus, so unless you also have a high temperature, fever, a cough and a loss of smell or taste, you do not need to get tested for Covid-19.
#2 Shortness of breath
One of the most noticeable coronavirus symptoms, a shortness of breath is more common and, if symptoms match those above, you will need to self-isolate. Conversely, shortness of breath isn't a common symptom of a cold or the seasonal flu.
#3 Timing of illness
As the CDC explains, 'if a person has COVID-19, it could take them longer to develop symptoms than if they had flu,' whereas with the flu, 'a person develops symptoms anywhere from 1 to 4 days after infection.'
#4 Runny nose
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below How does Covid impact our running, as explained by NHS Scotland. Using data from a Covid-19 symptoms app, this is especially true for children. 'If, however, your child does not have symptoms of COVID-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, they do not need to be tested and they and you do not need to self-isolate.'
#5 Loss of smell
In August, European researchers found that the loss of smell that is typical of coronavirus is different to that of the common cold or flu (Influenza). With Covid-19 patients, they explained, the loss of smell was 'sudden' and 'severe'. Similarly, coronavirus patients with loss of taste are unable to identify the difference between bitter or sweet. It's thought that the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells involved with smell and taste.
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Ed Cooper is the former Deputy Digital Editor at Men’s Health UK, writing and editing about anything you want to know about — from tech to fitness, mental health to style, food and so much more. Ed has run the MH gauntlet, including transformations, marathons and er website re-designs. He’s awful at pub sports, though. Follow him: @EA_Cooper
