A Vicious Cycle: Is It the Flu, COVID, or a Cold?

November 1, 2024

IM  -  

These days, feeling under the weather can raise all sorts of alarm bells. Is it COVID-19, a cold, or seasonal allergies? Determining the exact cause can be tricky because they share some of the same symptoms. Doctors are reporting a surge in COVID-19 as children return to school. Clearly not pandemic-level sickness, but new variants of the virus continue to circulate; the FLiRT omicron variants raged over the summer, while a variant called XEC is poised to dominate this fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says symptoms vary and they have not tied specific symptoms to variants.

Flu vs. COVID-19

Distinguishing COVID-19 from flu can be difficult because the symptoms overlap with respiratory diseases that affect the lungs. Both are contagious and both can give you a fever, cough, headache, and body aches.

Flu and COVID-19 are spread similarly by small particles from the nose and mouth when those infected sneeze, cough, sing, or talk. Those infected may be asymptomatic (don’t have symptoms) but can still pass along either virus. Both flu and COVID-19 can be spread before individuals develop symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms can take longer to develop. Someone with flu usually has symptoms one to four days after being infected. A person with COVID-19 typically shows symptoms about five days after infection, although it can range from two to 14 days.

In some cases, one telling sign of COVID-19 is loss of smell or taste. But there’s really only one way to be certain if you have COVID-19 or flu: get tested. Pharmacies sell tests and health centers still offer them. You can also order free tests from COVIDtests.gov to have on hand.

If you test positive and your symptoms are mild, over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help most people feel better. The CDC recommends seeking emergency medical care if you experience these symptoms:

• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Lips, skin, and nail beds appear pale, blue, or gray
• New confusion
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Trouble breathing

Cold or Allergies?

Like flu and COVID-19, colds are also caused by viruses and can be passed to others. Symptoms of a cold tend to be mild. You may have a runny nose, cough, congestion, and sore throat. But you will not usually have the aches and fever that are common with COVID-19 and flu. Often, you’ll feel better in a couple days.

Typical treatment for a common cold is rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications. Treatments may help relieve cold symptoms. You may want to take cough syrup at nighttime and rinse your nose and sinuses to help with congestion. Using a neti pot or other nasal rinsing device can be effective. Be sure to only use water that’s been properly processed, such as distilled or boiled water—not tap water. Salt packets may be sold with the neti pot or bought separately. You also can make your own salt mix. In a container, combine three parts of noniodized salt with one part baking soda and stir. Add one teaspoon of the mixture to one cup of the boiled, distilled, or sterilized water.

Sniffles, itchy eyes (ears), and sneezing from allergies occur in the spring and fall—and, experts say they’re getting more common and more intense. Allergy seasons have almost doubled in length and gotten more severe because of climate change, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Higher carbon dioxide emissions spur plants to release larger amounts of pollen that cause increased allergic reactions.

Exposure to dust, pets, and tree or grass pollen can trigger allergies, but symptoms abate when you’re no longer exposed to the cause. Unless you have asthma, allergies typically do not cause breathing problems. They can be treated with drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroids.

Wintery Mix of Viruses

Winter is prime cold and flu season. You’re likely to be indoors and close to others. Weather also plays a role in the spread of viruses. Cold and flu viruses survive longer and are more transmissible when it’s cooler and less humid.

Experts are concerned that flu and COVID-19 cases may increase and overlap in the winter. Flu cases usually start to increase around October and peak between December and February. Being infected with flu and COVID-19 at the same time is possible, as is showing symptoms of both.

Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs for the flu, which can make it milder; they work best if taken early on. The FDA has also approved the antiviral drug remdesivir to treat COVID-19. Other treatments are in development and under review.

Fortunately, strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 also prevent the spread of flu and colds. Measures like masking and social distancing work for other respiratory viruses, as well as COVID-19.

Experts also advise getting your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended for everyone aged 5 years and older. Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone six months and older. Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the types of flu viruses that scientists expect to circulate each year. Researchers are working to develop flu vaccines that last longer and offer broader protection against many flu strains.

Tips to Help Avoid Spread of Viruses:

• Get a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are feeling unwell.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and immediately throw it away.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Make sure you lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Not sure how long that is? Hum “Happy Birthday” twice.
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your face. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses.

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