How to know if it’s a cold, flu or covid? Experts explain the differences

The differences between allergy, flu, cold and covid-19 2:54 (CNN) — Do you have a sore throat, runny nose and muscle aches? It could be a common cold, a case of the flu… or covid-19.
All diseases share similar symptoms, so sometimes it is difficult to distinguish which one is making you feel bad. The subvariant of the omicron variant of the coronavirus known as BA.2 is causing a new wave of covid-19 infections across Europe. In the United States, cases of the variant have seen slow but steady growth since January, even as overall cases, hospitalizations and deaths have fallen. When the omicron variant began to spread, the data suggested that infection with this variant appeared to be less severe, according to epidemiologist and former executive director of the Detroit Department of Health, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. “The important thing is to remember that a vaccine is like a wake-up call to the immune system. Therefore, its ability to identify, attack and destroy viruses is much greater every time we add another vaccine booster,” El-Sayed said. . “It makes sense that the symptoms you experience will be milder if you’ve been vaccinated.” However, that doesn’t mean infections shouldn’t be taken seriously, he added, especially considering the risk of overburdening health systems. “The fact that the individual risk of serious illness is lower does not mean that at the societal or micron level there is no real risk,” he said. “Even a small proportion of a relatively large number can be a relatively large number.” Many COVID-19 infections can feel like a cold or the flu. The best way to find out is to get tested, said Dr. Sarah Ash Combs, a GP at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “If you don’t get tested, I’d say it’s really hard to tell right now,” Combs said. “We have to treat cold symptoms more or less in the same vein” as Covid-19. What symptoms to look for Early symptoms of cold, flu and Covid-19 tend to be similar, El-Sayed said. Both covid-19 and the flu often cause symptoms such as fever, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, and vomiting or diarrhea, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC, for its acronym in English). However, the covid-19 infection is distinguished by the headache and dry cough that usually accompany it. Loss of taste and smell, which has been the biggest warning sign of a Covid-19 infection, remains a possible symptom, although it is now less common than other variants, El-Sayed said. “For people who have severe chest pain, especially with a dry cough that has worsened, that’s when they should really seek medical attention,” she warned. The most important factor to consider is exposure. “If you start to feel any of these symptoms, it’s worth asking yourself: Has anyone I’ve been in contact with been infected with Covid? It’s also worth isolating yourself and getting a quick test,” she advises. Even if you don’t feel symptoms yet, it may be best to exercise caution if you’ve been around someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. “I think it’s worth keeping a high suspicion that it could be covid considering we have the omicron variant spreading like wildfire,” El-Sayed added. At this point, it’s safest to carefully treat all cold symptoms, Combs said. When to get tested for covid-19 It’s a good thing to get tested if covid-19 is suspected, but the timing of the test is what makes the difference. If symptoms are felt, it’s time to get tested, El-Sayed said. For those who have been exposed but don’t feel symptoms, there’s a chance the virus hasn’t grown enough to show up on a rapid test, he explained. In those cases, it’s best to wait five days after exposure before testing and remain vigilant, according to the CDC. “Just because the test is negative doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not covid,” El-Sayed said. “The best approach is to do the test and then maybe do it again in 12 to 24 hours, and if you get two negatives, you can be more confident that it’s not.” Whether it’s Covid-19 or the common cold, it’s always been a good idea to isolate yourself while battling a viral illness, he said. Now it is even more important, since the risk of contagion increases with covid-19. What to do if your child starts to runny Heading back to school after winter break, the United States is at a point where people need to treat cold or flu symptoms just like Covid-19, he said. Combs. When a family comes to her emergency department with a child who has a runny nose and a sore throat and asks what it is, she’s honest: She can’t know for sure without a test, Combs said. Children experience the omicron variant in the same way as adults, in that the symptoms are much broader and often milder, like a cold, he said. Omicron Targets Children and the Numbers Prove It 0:42It’s important for children to get a flu shot to reduce the chance of another virus being added to the mix, Combs said. Children under 5 years of age are still awaiting approval of the vaccine by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but older children can be vaccinated to reduce the risk of infection and transmission. serious illness.
When they return to the school setting, testing is going to be essential to protect against outbreaks, Combs said. “If you want to be really careful, if you want to get a child back into a school setting where they could infect other people, I would say really the only way to know is to get that test,” Combs said. The good news is that we know how to manage infections when kids go back to school, Combs said. When it’s unclear if your child has been exposed or if their test is still pending, protocols such as wearing masks, sanitizing, distancing, and reducing indoor gatherings are thought to remain effective in reducing spread, he added. And keep in mind that advice can evolve over time, El-Sayed warned. “It’s changing rapidly. We’re learning a lot more,” he said. “Omicron is a variant that we’ve really barely known about for a month.” Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2022.