COVID-19 vs. the flu vs. the common cold

As the COVID-19, individuals may feel as if the best thing to do is go straight to the hospital to be tested. UofL Health has created a guide to help you determine whether you have COVID-19, Influenza (flu), or a common cold, and what to do next:

COVID-19

COVID-19 is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA coronavirus. It is a new strain of coronavirus that is related to the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. The virus can spread person-to-person and has an incubation period of two to 14 days. Spreading the virus is even possible if the infected person has no symptoms during the incubation period.

Primary symptoms of COVID-19 include:

  • Fever
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Body aches

Severe (emergency warning sign) symptoms include:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Flu

The flu is a viral infection of the upper respiratory and/or lower respiratory system. The flu is contagious, can spread from person to person, and has an incubation period of about one to four days. The flu’s duration varies from about five days to two weeks depending upon the severity of the infection. The flu can become an intense and potentially fatal illness (pneumonia) in some individuals.

Flu symptoms include:

  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills*
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It is important to note that not everyone with the flu will have a fever. Symptoms typically last one week. 

Common Cold

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system (nose, throat, sinuses, Eustachian tubes, trachea, larynx, and bronchial tubes). Colds are contagious, can spread from person to person, and have an incubation period of about one to seven days. However, depending upon the viral strain, a cold can last up to two weeks.

Primary common cold symptoms include:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Body aches
  • General fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Headaches

While both a cold and the flu lead to similar symptoms, a cold happens gradually and is felt mainly in the head and the nose, usually with more mild symptoms and fatigue. Whereas flu symptoms tend to be much more severe and have a quick onset.

For most people without underlying medical conditions, COVID-19, cold and flu can all be treated at home with lots of rest, fluids and over the counter medications to ease symptoms. However, if you or a loved one need to seek medical attention, be sure to call your physician before going in to minimize the risk of spreading germs to others.

You can call UofL Health’s Primary Care Hotline Monday-Friday at 502-588-4343 to schedule an appointment. And if any of your symptoms turn emergent, call 911 immediately and inform the dispatcher that you have, or think you might have COVID-19. If at all possible, put on a cloth mask before medical personnel arrive.

UofL Health locations are available to schedule an appointment for your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Find a location near you:

UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus – Medical Center Northeast
UofL Health – Medical Center Northeast
2401 Terra Crossing Boulevard, Suite 100
Louisville, KY 40245
502-588-0746

UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus – Cedar Grove
1707 Cedar Grove Road, Suite 15
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
502-543-3246

UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus – Hurstbourne Corners
9409 Shelbyville Road, Suite 104
Louisville, KY 40222
502-588-0740

UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus – Buechel
4423 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40218
502-749-7909

UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus – Parkland
2746 Virginia Avenue
Louisville, KY 40211
502-815-7040

UofL Health – Pharmacy Services
UofL Health – Jackson Street Outpatient Center
550 S. Jackson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502-562-3571

 

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Article by: Christopher Combs, M.D.

Christopher Combs, M.D., is a board-certified internal medicine physician who graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2005 and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Louisville in 2008. He has been in practice for twelve years. His primary interest is preventative medicine with a focus on treating the patient as a whole, including both physical and mental well-being.

All posts by Christopher Combs, M.D.
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