Understanding Your Symptoms

With the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season going on, there may be confusion on whether the symptoms you are experiencing are cold-related, flu-related or COVID-19. During the pandemic especially, it is important to stay home if you are feeling sick and to get tested for COVID-19 if you are experiencing any symptoms or spent time with someone who tested positive. Learn about your symptoms below based on research from the CDC (www.cdc.gov).

COVID-19 vs Flu vs Common Cold Symptoms

Cold: Symptoms appear gradually and are usually milder than symptoms of the flu and COVID-19.

Flu: Symptoms appear abruptly and are usually milder than COVID-19 symptoms.

COVID-19: Symptoms seem to cause more serious illnesses in some people, but some people can also not have any symptoms. Typically, a person develops symptoms several days after being infected; symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure.

Cold

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Fatigue
• Sneezing

Flu

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Fatigue
• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Headaches
• Diarrhea (usually with children)
• Nausea or vomiting (usually with children)

COVID-19

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Fatigue
• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell