Every year, the winter season brings with it the usual cold symptoms, but this year is seeing a mix of COVID-19, influenza, and Influenza A infections. So how can you differentiate between the symptoms of these different illnesses to identify the nature of the disease you are suffering from?
Many symptoms can be expected, such as sore throat, across all illnesses, making it difficult to know for sure what illness people are experiencing. To clarify this, the National Health Service (NHS) in Britain has listed the full range of symptoms for each disease, which include:
**COVID-19 Symptoms:**
- High fever or chills
- A new continuous cough, meaning a severe cough for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes within 24 hours
- Loss or change of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- Body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
The NHS stated that COVID-19 symptoms "are very similar" to those of other illnesses, such as colds and influenza. It added, "Try to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you have COVID-19 symptoms, especially if they are accompanied by a high fever or if you do not feel well enough to go to work or engage in your normal activities." It also emphasized the need to "exercise caution to avoid close contact with anyone at risk of serious complications from COVID infection," noting that "you can return to normal activities when you feel better or when you no longer have a high fever."
**Influenza Symptoms:**
As for influenza, which millions of people are accustomed to contracting, especially during the winter months, its symptoms include:
- Sudden high fever
- Body aches
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea or abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
**Influenza A:**
Currently, there is a widespread incidence of Influenza A (Strep A), which, although most infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics, can rarely cause severe problems. Symptoms of Influenza A resemble those of influenza and include:
- High fever
- Swollen glands or body aches
- Sore throat (throat infection or tonsillitis)
- A rough rash, like sandpaper (scarlet fever)
- Boils and sores (impetigo)
- Pain and swelling (cellulitis)
- Severe muscle aches
- Nausea and vomiting
**Colds:**
Another illness that typically spreads this time of year is the common cold. Many symptoms are associated with other illnesses, but they can often be treated without a doctor visit, and people usually feel better within about a week. Symptoms include:
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Mild fever
- Pressure in your ears and face
- Loss of taste and smell
