It's a Cold...or Is It?

Navigating allergy season, a never-ending pandemic, and being around young kids all at once? It's hard to know which one is actually making you sick. Most respiratory illnesses start the same way: a sore throat, congestion, and a runny nose. This can make it difficult to know if you’ve got a garden variety cold (which doctors can’t do much for, aside from symptom treatment), the flu, COVID-19, or seasonal allergies. In the event that you happen to be sick with COVID or the flu, early treatment can help your symptoms; and if you’ve got allergies, a single pill may be the answer to your woes. Let’s take a look at what causes these illnesses, what symptoms they’ll give you, and how they’re treated. 

Cold vs. Flu vs. COVID vs. Allergies: A Quick Guide

While you may be able to tell the difference between allergies and the flu, the difference between Covid and the flu might be much tougher to discern. If you have a more serious illness, consider requesting a test at your doctor’s office to see if you have Covid or the flu. 

Now, let’s take a close-up look at these illnesses and figure out why and how they are different (even though the flu and Covid can feel equally awful!). 

The Flu

The flu (also known as influenza) is a virus that infects the respiratory tract and can cause pneumonia and severe illness in high risk patients.

Symptoms include: 

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Sore throat 

• Cough

• Fatigue 

• Headache

• Fever (common)

• Chills

• Muscle or body aches

• Vomiting or diarrhea (uncommon in adults). 

Although antibiotics have no effect on the flu virus, there are various anti-viral medications which, if prescribed early enough in the course of the illness, can shorten the duration of your symptoms . Don’t hesitate if you suspect you have the flu- ask your doctor for a test! 

To prevent the flu, get your flu shot every year! Each flu season typically involves a different strain of the virus, so an updated vaccine is required every fall.You can also cut down on your risk of catching the flu by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and if you’ll be in close quarters, wearing a face mask. 

The Common Cold

The common cold refers to a variety of relatively mild respiratory viruses like the rhinovirus or adenovirus. While these viruses are generally unpleasant, they’re rarely dangerous.

Symptoms can include: 

• Sneezing

• Stuffy or runny nose

• Sore throat

• Coughing

• Post-nasal drip

• Watery eyes

• Fatigue 

• Headaches

• Fever (uncommon)

Since common colds are caused by viruses, symptom relief is the best you can do until your body fights off the infection.. Your doctor will likely recommend over the counter medicine and the usual good advice to rest and stay hydrated. 

You can prevent viral transmission by sneezing into your elbow, washing your hands frequently with soap and hot water, and avoiding touching your face.

COVID-19

Coronaviruses are other common cold viruses, but certain strains have caused severe illnesses. Before COVID-19, there were SARS and MERS – although the latter two have since largely subsided.

Luckily, we now know that Covid is rarely that dangerous- but it’s still quite a bit more dangerous than the flu. It’s roughly 10x more lethal than flu- about 385,000 Americans died from Covid-19 related complications in 2020. 

Symptoms include: 

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Sore throat 

• Cough

• Fatigue 

• Headache

• Fever (common)

• Muscle or body aches

• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea 

• Shortness of breath /difficulty breathing

• Loss of smell or taste

Particularly worrying are post-Covid symptoms, like fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog.. We are still learning about just what Covid does to us- why is it so mild for some peopleand severe for others, for example. In the meantime, it pays to be cautious and to make sure you treat it Covid quickly should you have it.                                               

We recommend keeping spare Covid tests at home so you can catch Covid early, but if you don’t have any, you can contact your doctor or even schedule a test at many pharmacies. As soon as you know you have Covid, your doctor may prescribe you Paxlovid, an  antiviral drug that can make your case of Covid less severe.

You can prevent Covid exposure and infection similarly to colds and the flu- by keeping your hands clean and far away from your nose, mouth or eyes, by avoiding crowded indoor areas without good ventilation, and wearing a face mask to cut down on your viral exposure. 

Allergies

Allergies are not infections from viruses or bacteria but rather oversensitivity to various environmental triggers like dust or pollen. Your nose and sinus will do everything it can do try and rid your body of the allergen, but in doing so will make you miserable.

Symptoms include: 

• Sneezing

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Post-nasal drip

• Watery and itchy eyes

• Itchy sinuses, throat, or ear canals

• Ear congestion

The good news is allergies are usually very treatable. You may find relief with over the counter antihistamines  or you may need something more specific like eyedrops or nasal sprays. You may experience allergies after moving - this often occurs because people are not acclimated to the pollen in their new location. If you continue to suffer from allergies at a disruptive level, you may want to consider exposure therapy- this can involve allergy shots, or even eating local honey! 

In general, washing your face frequently, changing your clothes, and washing your bedsheets can help lower your exposure to allergens. Talk to your doctor for specific guidance.

When Is it Time to See a Doctor?

So, when should you see a doctor?  Even though most viruses go away on their own, seek care if your symptoms are difficult to manage or are not improving after several days. In addition, if you suspect COVID-19 or the flu, getting a positive test may warrant a prescription for those specific anti-viral treatments.

Feeling Sick or Need a Flu Shot?

Juno offers Same-Day Care so you can get the treatment you need — flu, COVID, and allergy testing, treatment, or a flu shot now that it's the season. Juno's providers are here to support you and your family. Book your appointment to get support for those cold/flu/COVID/allergy symptoms as soon as today here.