Influenza, the common cold & COVID-19 are all contagious respiratory illnesses. Whilst they share similar symptoms, they are caused by different viruses.
Influenza are a group of viruses that are responsible for the disease we commonly call the 'flu'.
With a cold you generally only experience mild symptoms like a runny nose. But influenza and COVID-19 can cause serious respiratory illness and can lead to severe complications like pneumonia.
Influenza is a disease that is spread from person to person during coughing or sneezing or by direct contact with respiratory secretions (e.g. saliva, nasal discharge). It can cause a wide range of disease, from mild to more severe disease that affects many body systems and can result in hospitalisation, other infections (e.g. pneumonia) and even death.
COVID-19 comes from a large family of viruses called coronaviruses. It is transmitted in the same way as the flu, with similar symptoms, but overall COVID-19 appears to cause more serious illnesses in some people.
So is it the flu, a cold, allergies or COVID-19? It’s important to be aware of the symptoms and to get tested if you become sick to confirm your diagnosis. Here are some general ways you can distinguish some of the symptoms:
|
SYMPTOMS |
COVID-19 |
COLD |
FLU |
ALLERGIES |
| Fever | Sometimes | Rare | Common | No |
| Cough | Common | Common | Common | Common (asthma) |
| Sore Throat | Common | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes (itchy throat & palate) |
| Shortness of breath | Sometimes | No | No | Common (asthma) |
| Fatigue | Common | Sometimes | Common | Sometimes |
| Aches & pains | Sometimes | No | Common | No |
| Headaches | Common | Common | Common | Sometimes |
| Runny or stuffy nose | Common | Common | Sometimes | Common |
| Diarrhoea | Rare | No | Sometimes (especially in children) |
No |
| Sneezing | Common | Common | No | Common |
Adapted from Australian Government, Department of Health (COVID-19: Identifying the symptoms).