A cold, the flu or COVID-19: What’s the difference?

Editor’s note: As what we know about COVID-19 evolves, so could the information in this story. Find our most recent COVID-19 articles here and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some photos and videos on this site were filmed prior to the COVID-19 outbreak or may not reflect current physical distancing and/or masking guidelines.

Since early 2020, millions of people around the world have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 infection, but that’s not all that’s going around.

How can you tell the difference between COVID-19 and the common cold or the flu?

As colder fall air sets in and flu season inches closer, it's a question that many people will have difficulty answering.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, testing has become more readily available so more people are able to be tested for the virus. But at the first sign of a sniffle, should you call your primary care provider to obtain a test?

To ensure that testing continues to be available for those at the highest risk, make sure you know the difference between symptoms of COVID-19, the common cold and the flu.

If you believe you have symptoms and might be infected with COVID-19, it’s best to be safe and get tested.

Symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza infection can overlap considerably. Additionally, how bad your symptoms are can be different from person to person. The severity of symptoms can vary, both with the flu and with COVID-19, though severe cases are more of a worry with COVID-19. Some people can have no symptoms at all (making them “asymptomatic”), while others have severe symptoms that require hospitalization.

That’s why it’s best to be tested if you think you might have COVID-19 — even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms — so that you know what you’re dealing with and can avoid spreading it to anyone else.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 symptoms

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste and/or smell

View all symptoms of COVID-19

Influenza symptoms

• Fever* or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuff nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Vomiting and diarrhea in some people (this is more common in children than in adults)

*It's important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Common cold symptoms

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose

Because each of these respiratory illnesses can overlap in terms of symptoms, the difference between them can’t solely be based off of symptoms — if you have a concern, consider getting tested to know for sure.

If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control recommends seeking medical attention for the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

Regardless of your symptoms, if you have any questions, call your primary care provider and they can help get you screened and guide you in the right direction. Continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing, frequent hand washing, disinfecting common surfaces and taking some time throughout the day to decompress and clear your mind.

We’ve come so far and we are still in this together.

Vaccines can save lives

Historically, vaccinations have been shown to save lives time and again. Although vaccinations aren’t without their own risks, the benefit of getting vaccinated far outweighs the (often rare) complications that could possibly accompany them.

For more information, be sure to speak with trusted health care professionals who can help you interpret the information and data so that you can make an educated decision for you, your family and your community.

• Learn more about how to schedule your flu shot
• Read the latest on COVID-19 care, testing and vaccination

This blog post has been updated since its original publish date (April 8, 2020).