How to tell the difference between COVID-19 and influenza

Published: November 22, 2022 | Updated: October 2, 2024

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

COVID-19 and the seasonal flu have some of the same signs and can range from no symptoms to severe illness.

Both infections can cause:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

One frequent symptom of COVID-19 that doesn’t come with flu is a newly lost sense of taste or smell.

Emergency warning signs of infection from the coronavirus include:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

With either illness, contact a health care provider with any severe or troubling symptoms.

It can be difficult to tell based solely on symptoms whether an illness is COVID-19 or flu. Confirmation of either would have to come from a nasal swab test.

The common cold typically comes with a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat and body aches. Fever is not a common cold symptom, and while fever often accompanies flu, it doesn’t always.

Who’s vulnerable to COVID-19 or flu?

Anyone can get sick from the coronavirus or the flu — or both. Serious complications from these viruses can happen at any age.

Those who are older and those with severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious illness with COVID-19.

Similarly, the flu can strike anyone. As with COVID-19, anyone over 65 and people of any age with certain chronic conditions such heart or lung disease, diabetes, or asthma are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications. Flu can hit pregnant women and children under age 5 particularly hard. Kids younger than 2 years old are especially at risk.

Signs and Symptoms	Cold	Influenza	Airborne Allergies	COVID-19
Fever	Rare	Usually, often severe; lasts 3 to 4 days	No	Common
Aches	Slight	Usually; often severe	No	Common
Fatigue, weakness	Sometimes	Usually and can last up to three weeks	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Usually	Sometimes	Usually	Rarely
Stuffy, runny nose	Common	Sometimes	Common	Common
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes	Sometimes	Common
Cough	Common	Common; can be severe	Sometimes	Common, dry cough
Headache	Uncommon	Common	Uncommon	Common
Extreme exhaustion	Never	Usually, at the beginning of illness	No	Common
Chest discomfort	Mild to moderate	Common	Rarely, unless pre-existing allergic asthma	Common; can cause trouble breathing or persistent pain or pressure in the chest. Emergency care required.
New loss of taste or smell	Rarely	Rarely	Rarely	Common