Cold vs. flu vs. coronavirus: A 2020 dilemma
Spotting the difference between early cold symptoms and early flu symptoms can be tricky. Now in 2020 and into 2021, we need to throw another layer onto the winter guessing game: coronavirus. We’ll walk you through the symptoms of each so you have a better idea if your sniffles mean the flu, a cold, or even coronavirus.
Comparing cold symptoms vs. flu symptoms vs. coronavirus symptoms
The table below lists symptoms side by side to make it just a little easier to tell what your sniffles might mean.
| Symptom | Cold | Flu | COVID-19 |
| Fever | Rare | Often | Often |
| Tiredness | Sometimes | Often | Sometimes |
| Headache | Rare | Often | Sometimes |
| Body Aches | Sometimes | Often | Sometimes |
| Sore Throat | Often | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Runny or Stuffy Nose | Often | Sometimes | Rare |
| Sneezing | Often | Rare | Rare |
| Cough | Sometimes | Sometimes | Often |
| Watery Eyes | Often | Often | Rare |
| Shortness of Breath | Never | Rare | Often |
| Diarrhea | Never | Sometimes | Rare |
Is it a cold?
We all know the common cold. You get the sniffles, feel a little under the weather, and cozy up with some blankets and chicken noodle soup to weather the storm. The cold is the mildest of the three illnesses and is most often characterized by a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and some aches and pains. There is no cure, but over-the-counter medications can make a cold more bearable.
Is it the flu?
The flu is more serious than a cold. If you have the flu, you’ll feel worse faster than with a cold. That means fever, chills, aches and pains, tiredness, and sometimes a sore throat, cough, or runny nose. While we don’t have a cure for the flu, the flu vaccine is an excellent way to prevent the flu. The flu shot is even more important during COVID-19. If you get the flu shot and still get the flu, thankfully there are a variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications than can help you manage your symptoms.
