COVID-19, the flu, a cold or allergies?
It’s the beginning of cold, flu and allergy season, and this year, we also need to watch for COVID-19. It can be difficult to know what you’re fighting, though, as their symptoms can look very similar. This chart can help you decide when and where to seek care for your symptoms.
| Symptoms | COVID-19 | Cold | Flu | Allergies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms Symptoms onset after exposure | COVID-19 Mild to severe; begin 1-14 days after exposure | Cold Gradual onset; begin 1-3 days after exposure | Flu Abrupt onset; begin 1-4 days after exposure | Allergies Improve or worsen based on environment; begin immediately after exposure |
| Symptoms Fever | COVID-19 Common | Cold Rare | Flu Common | Allergies No |
| Symptoms Fatigue, weakness | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold Sometimes | Flu Common | Allergies Sometimes |
| Symptoms Exhaustion | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold No | Flu Common | Allergies No |
| Symptoms Aches and pains | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold Sometimes | Flu Common | Allergies No |
| Symptoms Cough | COVID-19 Common | Cold Common | Flu Common | Allergies Sometimes |
| Symptoms Sneezing | COVID-19 Rare | Cold Common | Flu Sometimes | Allergies Common |
| Symptoms Runny or stuffy nose | COVID-19 Rare | Cold Common | Flu Sometimes | Allergies Common |
| Symptoms Sore throat | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold Common | Flu Common | Allergies Sometimes |
| Symptoms Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold No | Flu Sometimes (in children) | Allergies No |
| Symptoms Headache | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold Rare | Flu Common | Allergies Sometimes |
| Symptoms Shortness of breath | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold Rare | Flu Rare | Allergies Common |
| Symptoms Itchy eyes | COVID-19 No | Cold No | Flu No | Allergies Common |
| Symptoms Itchy nose or throat | COVID-19 No | Cold No | Flu No | Allergies Common |
| Symptoms Loss of taste or smell | COVID-19 Sometimes | Cold No | Flu No | Allergies No |