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Do I Have COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, or Something Else?

First Response Urgent Care Blog Do I Have COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, or Something Else?
Do I Have COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, or Something Else?

It’s that time of year again. You wake up with a scratchy throat, a cough, and generally feel unwell. Is it a common cold, the seasonal flu, or COVID-19? 

At First Response Urgent Care, with two locations in Brooklyn, New York, our medical team understands that recognizing which respiratory illnesses can be a challenge, as they often share similar symptoms.

Understanding the overlap in symptoms

COVID-19, the flu, and the common cold are all caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. This is why they share many of the same symptoms, making it difficult to self-diagnose.

Common Symptoms

Both COVID-19 and the flu can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Some of the most common overlapping symptoms include:

While a cold can also cause these symptoms, they are typically much milder. A runny or stuffy nose is often the most prominent symptom of a cold.

Key differences to watch for

While there is considerable overlap, there are subtle differences that can help distinguish between these illnesses.

A sudden loss of taste or smell, without a stuffy nose, is a hallmark symptom of COVID-19. While it can occur with the flu, it is much less common.

Flu symptoms tend to come on very suddenly, while cold and COVID-19 symptoms often develop more gradually. With COVID-19, you may not experience symptoms for two to 14 days after infection, whereas flu symptoms typically appear one to four days after infection.

Generally, the flu feels much worse than a common cold. COVID-19 can range from asymptomatic to severe, but symptoms like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing are more common with COVID-19 and indicate a more serious illness.

When to seek medical care

Because the symptoms are so similar, the only way to know for sure what you have is to get tested. At First Response Urgent Care, we offer testing for COVID-19 and the flu to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following severe symptoms:

If you’re feeling under the weather and aren’t sure what’s causing your symptoms, don’t guess. To learn more about your symptoms and receive the correct diagnosis, contact the Brooklyn, New York, office nearest you today.

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