Doctor warns this symptom means you’ve got Covid and not flu or cold
There is one particular symptom which will let you know you've got something way bigger than your common cold
Whether it's a runny nose, tickly throat or sneezing every five minutes, it's clear that we all tend to feel a tad worse for wear when it comes to winter.
However, it feels particularly intense at the moment, what with all the 'super flu', mpox and the new 'Stratus' Covid strain going around.
But it's important to know the symptoms of each ailment we're currently seeing a surge in, hence why a doctor has now helpfully outlined the main differences between your bog-standard flu or cold compared to Covid.
Given that a lot of the symptoms overlap, Dr Rupa Parmar, a GP and medical director at Midland Health, started by explaining: "There are some key differences between a common cold, Covid and flu that can easily help you differentiate them.
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"But, if you’re still unsure, always consult your doctor. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to health."
Cold/flu symptoms
Now, according to Dr Parmar, coughs are common in all three viruses, but they have notable differences.
"With a cold, a cough will be mild, while a flu cough will seem dry," she noted, with the official NHS website adding that cold symptoms come on gradually over two to three days.
Flu symptoms, however, 'come on very quickly' with a 'dry cough' being just one symptom of the flu.
While you may also have a dry cough with Covid, Dr Parmer highlights that it will be persistent.
"With Covid, a cough will be dry and continuous, and many people will cough for more than an hour or have three or more coughing episodes within a day," she said.
The NHS describes this as: "A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours."
Covid symptoms
Other key symptoms of Covid to look for include:
- A high temperature – you may feel hot, cold or shivery, or your skin is hot to the touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
"The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover," the NHS states.
"For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer," the health body added.
"If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist for advice about cough treatments."
You can find out more about Covid-19 on the official NHS website here.
Rhiannon Ingle