The differences between COVID-19, flu, allergies and colds

When a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, or cough appear, you might ask yourself, “Do I have COVID-19, the flu, allergies or a cold?” And since all these illnesses share some similar symptoms, it’s hard to know the difference.

To know for certain, you need to set up an appointment with your doctor and get tested, whether at home, at a testing center, or at your doctor’s office.

While you wait for your diagnosis or test results, there are a few key differences between coronavirus, seasonal allergies, and the flu that you can keep in mind.

• Flu and COVID-19 symptoms can both come on fast. Flu symptoms usually develop within four days of exposure, while COVID-19 symptoms can develop anywhere from one to 10 days after exposure.
• With seasonal allergies you generally don’t have a fever or body aches, but you might feel run down and could have a sore throat. Symptoms are also pretty continuous and don’t escalate.
• Allergies don’t usually cause troubled or heavy breathing, unless you have asthma. So, if you have troubled or heavy breathing, it could be coronavirus or the flu.
• If you have itchy eyes, nose or throat, those symptoms are often associated with allergies.

If you have COVID-19 or flu symptoms, it’s important to remember to stay home from work or school, and isolate yourself from other family members to help prevent virus spread. Don’t share drinking glasses or utensils with others, practice really good hand-washing, and make sure to disinfect surfaces. If you must leave the house, be sure to wear a mask. Lastly, don’t just walk into your doctor’s office. Be sure to call ahead.

While vaccines are extremely effective in preventing hospitalization and death, they do not completely eliminate the chance of getting COVID-19. People who are vaccinated, especially those who haven’t yet had their booster, need to be on the lookout for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if they become ill. Many of these cases will have mild symptoms that are very similar to seasonal colds: nasal congestion, sneezing and low-grade fever. I’d encourage anyone with upper respiratory symptoms to stay home from work or school and to get tested for COVID-19.

“No matter what variant is out there, we need to do the same things we’ve been doing during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kelly Gardner, RN, CIC, Bayhealth senior manager of infection control. “It’s all about breaking the chain of infection, just like it is for other viruses such as the flu, which also has different strains and can mutate.”

Here are some steps everyone can take to help break the chain of infection:

• Get vaccinated if you haven’t already
• Get your booster shot if you’re due for one
• Practice good hand hygiene
• Wear face coverings when out in public
• Practice social distancing
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly
• Get tested if you have symptoms
• Don’t go to work or school if you feel sick.

To learn about coronavirus testing or vaccinations, contact your primary care physician or visit the Delaware Division of Public Health's coronavirus resource center at coronavirus.delaware.gov.