During the winter months, there is always a rise in cases of the common cold and the flu (influenza). While these diseases have overlapping symptoms, they also have some key differences. Understanding their differences can help you take proper care to look after yourself and keep others safe by avoiding passing your illness on.
In recent years, this has become even more difficult with the emergence of COVID-19, another disease that can have similar symptoms. So, what are the symptoms, and how can you tell the difference?
The Common Cold
Symptoms of the Common Cold
The common cold generally has milder symptoms than the flu. These symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Mild headache
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Mild fever (more common in children)
- Watery eyes
Treatment for the Common Cold
While there are no cures for the common cold, there are things you can do to try and make yourself feel better as your immune system fights the illness.
- Rest
- Drink plenty of water
- Take over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol, or cold and flu sachets, such as Lemsip (other brands should be equally effective and are often much cheaper)
- Cough lozenges can help soothe sore throats
As colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics won’t be effective, and taking them when you don’t need to can reduce how effective they are against diseases in the future.
The Flu
The symptoms of the flu are generally far more severe than those of the common cold. For those with weaker immune systems, the flu can be life-threatening. As such, preventative measures are essential to prevent the disease from spreading.
Symptoms of the Flu
- High fever
- Severe muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue (can be extreme)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Vomiting and diarrhoea (more common in children)
Treatments and Prevention
Like the common cold, the flu is a viral infection, so antibiotics won’t treat it. However, several things can help:
- Antiviral medicines (proscribed by your GP or through an online consolation)
- Over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol or cold and flu sachets
- Rest
- Rehydration (particularly if you are suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea)
Vaccinations
The single most effective way to deal with the flu is to get an annual flu vaccine to prevent you from catching the disease in the first place.
Who Should Consider Flu Vaccinations:
- People over 65, particularly people living in care homes or retirement accommodation
- Carers of people over 65
- Carers of disabled people
- People who are pregnant
- Children over 6 months with certain health conditions
- Children between 2-3 and all primary school-aged children
Speak to your GP or book a private online GP appointment to speak to a doctor about getting a flu shot for you or a family member.
If you think you have the flu, please consider speaking to a doctor over the phone or via an online consultation, as the flu is highly contagious, and avoiding other people can help you to avoid passing on the disease to others.
Why Should You Consider a Flu Vaccination?
- Reduce your risk of contracting the virus
- Lessen the severity if you do get sick
- Prevent spreading the virus to others, especially vulnerable populations like infants, older people, and those with compromised immune systems.
COVID-19
Recent data indicates a rise in COVID-19, which can have a lot of similar symptoms to the common cold or the flu. Symptoms for COVID-19 can vary greatly, ranging from very mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, to potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
Distinguishing COVID-19 from Colds and Flu
While there’s an overlap of symptoms, one key distinguishing symptom of COVID-19 is the sudden loss of taste or smell. However, not everyone with COVID-19 will have this symptom, so testing for COVID-19 with a rapid flow test remains the best way to identify this disease.
Protecting Yourself and Others
Prevention is crucial:
- Adhere to guidelines such as wearing masks in crowded places
- Isolate for 5 days, where possible
- Get vaccinated if you’re eligible and haven’t already
Conclusion
While there are a lot of overlapping symptoms between these diseases, knowing the differences can help you get the proper treatment and avoid passing these diseases on to others. If you are unsure about what to do or would like to speak to a doctor, please don’t hesitate to talk to your GP over the phone or book a private GP appointment online.
Remember, if you can isolate and speak to a GP without a face-to-face conduction, you can minimise the spread of these diseases and keep others safe.