We’re in our ninth month with the deadly respiratory virus that causes COVID-19 circulating among us – and now cold and flu season is here. Epidemiologist Brandon Brown of the Center for Healthy Communities at UC Riverside weighs in to help parents navigate the range of illnesses they might encounter this winter.
“It is the flu season, and many people might conflate flu symptoms with symptoms of COVID-19,” Brown says. “If we all get our flu vaccine, we will be able to prevent some of this confusion.” Cold symptoms are generally milder than symptoms of the flu. And severe COVID-19 symptoms can kill in the same way that severe flu symptoms can.
“If you have any symptoms that might be indicative of COVID, call your primary care provider,” Brown says. He adds that anyone having trouble breathing should seek immediate medical attention.
Cold Symptoms | Flu Symptoms | COVID-19 Symptoms |
---|---|---|
Cough | Cough | Cough |
Sore throat | Sore throat | Sore throat |
Headaches | Headaches | Headaches |
Body aches | Body aches | Body aches |
Runny nose | Shortness of breath | Shortness of breath |
Sneezing | Fever | Fever |
Runny or stuffy nose | Congestion | |
Fatigue | Fatigue | |
Nausea or vomiting | Nausea or vomiting | |
Diarrhea | Diarrhea | |
Weakness | Weakness | |
Exhaustion | Exhaustion | |
New loss of taste/smell |