As winter approaches, low temperatures may increase your risk of getting sick. It’s more important than ever to keep yourself safe and healthy. This means knowing the symptoms of, and understanding the difference between, a cold, the flu, and COVID-19.
COVID symptoms can be mistaken for “just a cold”, so if you do catch something this winter, Dr Rupa Parmar, is sharing her complete guide on protecting yourself and how to determine if your symptoms are indicating something a lot more serious.
What is a Cold?
The common cold can be caused by a variety of viruses, and it’s incredibly easy for it to spread through droplets in the air or contaminated surfaces.
Colds will affect mostly your nose and throat. Common symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, hoarse voice, and a general feeling of being tired or unwell. These normally subside in 1 to 2 weeks.
A cold can normally be treated without going to the doctor. Resting, drinking plenty of fluid, and focusing on a healthy diet can all help. Some at-home remedies include gargling salt water, drinking a hot tea with lemon and honey, and breathing in steam from a kettle or shower.
To reduce a cold’s spread, you should wash your hands well and often and use tissues when you cough or sneeze, then quickly bin them.
In Children
On average, children have around 8 to 10 colds a year, caused by their proximity to many viruses, and abetted by their weaker immune system. Over time, they’ll build up immunity and start to have less.
In younger children, cold symptoms may last much longer. They may also struggle to sleep and breathe easily, and can lose their appetite.
It’s not recommended for children under the age of 6 to gargle salt water, take decongestants, or take over-the-counter cough medicine. But drinking lots of fluids, using saline drops to relieve a blocked nose, and drinking lemon and honey can help ease their symptoms.
What is the Flu?
The flu is more serious than a cold, and it’s caused specifically by the influenza virus. It generally gets better on its own, but it can lead to serious complications in some people.
Flu symptoms will appear quickly, within just a few hours, and include a high temperature, aches, exhaustion, headaches, loss of appetite, and a sore throat and dry cough. Some people may also have diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting, or feel like they need to vomit.
Resting, keeping warm, taking antibiotics like paracetamol and ibuprofen, and drinking plenty of fluids can all help treat the flu. It is also recommended to get the flu vaccine, which will minimise your chances of getting seriously ill if you catch the virus.
In Children
Symptoms of the flu are similar in children and adults, but some children can also experience ear pain and seem less active. Tiredness symptoms can last as long as four weeks in children.
Antiviral medicines can be given to children with the flu to help lessen their illness.
What is COVID?
COVID-19 is caused by an infection of SARS-CoV-2, a severe respiratory syndrome. It is still highly contagious and can develop into serious health problems, including organ failure, blood clots, and major respiratory issues.
Symptoms include a high temperature, loss of smell or taste, shortness of breath, exhaustion, a sore throat, runny nose, lack of appetite, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Coughing for more than an hour or having more than two bouts of coughing within a day is also a common symptom.
Most will feel better within a few weeks, but some people may need a longer period of recovery.
If you or your child has COVID and has a high temperature or doesn’t feel well enough to go to work or school, stay at home and rest. While we’re no longer in the pandemic, avoiding contact with others is still crucial to protect others and stop the virus from spreading.
It’s also a good idea to avoid lying on your back if you have a cough, open a window, take paracetamol or ibuprofen, and stay hydrated. On top of that, it makes sense to stay up-to-date on your COVID boosters, and if you do experience worsening symptoms, make sure to call your doctor, as you may benefit from hospital treatment.
In Children
Most children with COVID should recover within 1 to 2 weeks. Their symptoms will be similar to adults’, and if they do test positive, they should stay at home from school for at least three days.
How to Tell the Difference
There are some key differences between the three viruses that can easily help you differentiate them. But, if you’re still unsure, always consult your doctor. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to health.
- Symptoms
Symptoms of a cold will appear gradually, whereas flu symptoms come on suddenly, within a few hours, and COVID symptoms may start as mild and progress in severity. A cold mostly affects the throat and nose, but symptoms may be all over in both the flu and COVID.
- Cough
Coughs are common in all three viruses, but they have differences. With a cold, a cough will be mild, while a flu cough will seem dry. With COVID, a cough will be dry and continuous, and many people will cough for more than an hour or have three or more coughing episodes within a day.
- Fever
It’s rare to have a fever and just a cold. But it’s one of the most common symptoms if you have the flu or COVID.
- Fatigue, Aches, and Pains
Fatigue and exhaustion are common and can be quite severe for people with the flu, sometimes lasting for up to three weeks. This means that mild fatigue symptoms are more likely to be a cold. Similarly, aches are more common with the flu than with COVID or a cold.
- Loss of taste or smell
A loss of taste or smell is a symptom somewhat unique to COVID. If you are experiencing either a change in taste or a complete loss, it is most likely that you have the Coronavirus.
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is rare in both a cold and the flu, but as COVID more so affects the lungs due to inflammation, it is a common symptom.
Understanding which virus you have depends on the combination of symptoms and their severity. A mild cough and sore throat are unlikely to be more than a cold, a fever and severe fatigue suggest the flu, while a loss of smell or taste and continuous cough point to COVID.
Tips on Avoiding Illness This Winter
Over 65s, pregnant people, babies, very young children, anyone with a long-term health condition, and people on a lower income are most vulnerable to catching a virus in the cold weather.
Although it’s not possible to avoid getting sick 100% of the time, there are some practical, simple ways to minimise your risk of catching a cold, or worse, this winter.
- Hygiene
Regularly washing your hands, especially after touching any public surfaces, can help prevent catching an illness. If you do have a cold, cough or sneeze into a fresh tissue and then quickly dispose of it to trap germs. You can also regularly disinfect surfaces at home, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, to avoid the spread of germs.
- Vaccines
Make sure you’re up to date with your COVID boosters and have your flu vaccine. Vaccines teach your body how to create antibodies, helping it learn how to protect itself if you do eventually come into contact with a virus.
- Warmth
Staying warm over winter is important as cold temperatures are the perfect environment for viruses. At home, consider investing in a draught excluder or keyhole cover, wear several thin layers rather than one thick layer to trap heat, draw curtains as soon as it’s dark outside, eat more hot meals like soups and porridge, and wear warm clothes to sleep. For those struggling with income, the government may provide support with heating or provide grants to help with insulation and energy efficiency.
- Diet
Nourishing your body with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains will provide you with essential vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system boosted in the winter. Increase your intake of food high in vitamin C, like oranges and peppers, and high in vitamin D, like fatty fish and fortified milk or cereals.
- Community
A great way to make sure people are staying safe this winter is to help relatives and neighbours who may be vulnerable. Make sure they’re vaccinated and their homes are warm, offer practical help like running errands, provide warm meals if they’re unable to do that themselves, and keep in contact, checking in periodically to ask how they’re feeling or if they need any more support.
