How to Differentiate Between the Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19, Allergies, Cold, and Flu?

Symptoms of Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 can easily be confused with symptoms of the common cold or flu, or even allergies.

Coronavirus disease orCOVID-19is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus calledSARS-CoV-2。这种疾病可以影响任何年龄的人and gender. Most people withCOVID-19will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without the need for intensive or special treatment.

Serious illness is more likely in elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions such as

• heart disease,
• diabetes,
• chronic respiratory disease and
• cancer.

Common coldis also a viral infection that may be caused by many types ofviruses. The virus typically infects the nose and throat.Common coldusually manifests as a mild to moderate harmless illness. It can affect anyone, although children under age six are more susceptible.

Allergiesoccur when the immune system reacts to foreign substances such as dust,pollen,mold, and certain medications that may be harmless for most people. During anallergic reaction, the immune system releases antibodies (proteins delivering a message to cells to release chemicals) that causeallergicsymptoms.

Fluorinfluenzais also an infectious viral disease. It is caused by an influenza virus. It can cause a mild to severe disease with the severe form occurring more frequently in infants and small children.

Anyone can get influenza, but some people are at a high risk of serious complications. These include infants, small children, people aged 65 years and above, people with certain long-term medical conditions (such asdiabetes,asthma, orheart disease) andpregnantwomen.

Diseases affecting the respiratory system (starting from the nose to thelungs) often manifest with overlapping signs and symptoms. Symptoms ofCOVID-19usually occur from 2-14 days after exposure. The symptoms may vary from person to person and may range from mild to severe disease.

COVID-19 symptoms include the following:

最常见的症状

• Fever
• Drycough
• Tirednessorfatigue

Less common symptoms

• Aches and pains
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Skinrashor discoloration of the fingers or toes

Serious symptoms

• Breathingdifficulty orshortness of breath
• Chest painor pressure
• Loss of speechor movement

Comparison of the symptoms of COVID-19, allergies, cold, and flu

Fever

• COVID-19: common
• Allergies: absent
• Flu: common
• Cold: sometimes

Cough

• COVID-19: common
• Allergies: rare
• Flu: common
• Cold: common

• COVID-19: common
• Allergies: rare
• Cold: rare
• Flu: rare

• COVID-19: common
• 过敏:缺席
• Flu: common
• Cold: sometimes

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: rare
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: common

• COVID-19:有时
• 过敏:缺席
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: absent

Congestion

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: common
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: common

Loss of smell

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: sometimes
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: sometimes

Runny nose

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: common
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: sometimes

Itchyeyes

• COVID-19: absent
• Allergies: common
• Flu: absent
• Cold: absent

Sneezing

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: common
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: sometimes

Chills

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: rare
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: rare

Repeated shaking with chills

• COVID-19:有时
• 过敏:缺席
• Flu: absent
• Cold: absent

Headache

• COVID-19:有时
• Allergies: rare
• Flu: sometimes
• Cold: rare

If you are not sure of the cause of your symptoms, call your physician to seek advice over the phone. You must seek immediate medical help if you have any of the serious symptoms such as breathing difficulty or shortness of breath,chest pain, high fever or pressure and loss of speech or movement.

Always contact your doctor on phone before visiting them or any health facility. If you have mild symptoms and are otherwise healthy, you should manage your symptoms at home with the necessary medical guidance from a healthcare provider on the phone.