Is it a Cold or the Flu?
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Cold vs. Flu
With cold and flu season in full swing, you may find yourself feeling sick. In light of the current pandemic, it may be even harder to differentiate your symptoms. We're here to break down the differences between these viral illnesses.
The Common Cold
The common cold is a respiratory illness that can be caused by several different viruses, however, rhinoviruses are the most common. Other viruses that can cause the common cold include:
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Human parainfluenza viruses
- Adenovirus
- Common human coronaviruses
- Human metapneumovirus
Symptoms typically associated with the common cold include:
- Body aches
- Coughing
- Headaches
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
The Seasonal Flu
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. When it comes to the flu, it can infect various parts of your respiratory tract including:
- The nose
- The throat
- The lungs
Although this virus can infect people year-round, the flu is most commonly contracted during the fall and winter months. The height of flu season falls between December and February.
Symptoms of the seasonal flu can range from mild to severe. Symptoms of the flu typically include:
- Body aches
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever or feeling feverish
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, is not the same as the common coronaviruses that cause mild illnesses like the common cold. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, meaning that it has not been previously identified.
The most commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Body aches
- Chills
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
CCH is open, safe and ready to see you.
With almost 80 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners in nearly 20 specialties, CCH is committed to your wellbeing right here at home. If you have been putting off a visit to your doctor for a regular checkup, contact them; they can help weigh your personal healthcare risk and avoid further delayed diagnoses.
Visit www.cchwyo.org/findadoc to find your provider or clinic.
For medical emergencies, call 911. If you are in crisis and need to talk to a counselor, please call 307-688-5555.
