Flu and cold season are just right around the corner. However, with this season comes the well-asked question of “is it truly a cold or a symptom of COVID?” 

Before we get into this question, it is important to say if you feel any of these symptoms mentioned or just don’t feel good; try to stay home as much as possible. Even if it is just a cold, that does not mean you are not contagious and could get others sick. 

So what is the difference between a cold and COVID? 

According to Kelly Malcolm from Michigan Health, “cold symptoms are mild and the common cold tends not to be associated with fever or headache.” 

She also goes on to say “if you have two of the more following symptoms: headache, new muscle aches, new upper respiratory symptoms (congestion, runny nose, sore throat), loss of taste or smell,  nausea or vomiting or new rash, you should consider testing.”

These symptoms are of COVID, but with COVID, they will gradually get worse. Also with COVID, the symptoms will build off of one another. So one day a person will have one symptom of COVID, and then the next day they will get another.

With a cold, you will experience symptoms of runny nose or cough. You will more than likely get these symptoms at once. They will not build off each other and in a couple of days, you will get better. 

Overall, the difference between a cold and COVID is that with COVID, you will have more than the basic symptoms of a cough and runny nose. The most noticeable one that doctors hit on is the loss of smell and taste. They will build off each other and in the end get worse before getting better. 

If you are feeling any symptoms unknown to you or even cold-like symptoms, It does not hurt to call a doctor. It also does not hurt to get a test just in case!

Malcolm gives more great tips in her article “Cold, Flu, or Covid 19?” Here is how to tell the difference which you can find online at https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/cold-flu-or-covid-19-heres-how-to-tell-difference