As the coronavirus pandemic continues into the winter months, many people are concerned about how to tell the difference between the common cold, flu and Covid-19.
Some of the symptoms for the deadly virus present similarities with a cold and flu so it can be tricky to identify what you're suffering with.
A symptom tracker, pictured below, has been issued to help advise people.
Ben Littlewood-Hilson, chief medical officer at Doctorlink, said having a runny nose is a big sign what you have is a cold.
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Covid-19 has more specific symptoms - and the flu usually affects the whole body, reports the Mirror.
Speaking to the Metro, Dr Ravi Tomar, a GP at the Portland Medical Practice in Croydon added: "The challenge with these upper respiratory infections is that that can all present with symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, aches and pain.
"However the predominating symptoms can help to differentiate between each.
"With a common cold less of the body is affected with symptoms focused on the mouth and nose; with the flu – you would expect the body as a whole to mainly be affected; with Covid, the persistent fever, dry cough and specific features like the loss in taste or smell can suggest this may be the cause."
The NHS says the main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.
The NHS says flu symptoms can include:
- a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
-
feeling sick and being sick
Keep up to date with coronavirus cases in your area by adding your postcode below:
The NHS says cold symptoms come on gradually and can include:
- a blocked or runny nose
- a sore throat
- headaches
- muscle aches
- coughs
- sneezing
- a raised temperature
- pressure in your ears and face
- loss of taste and smell
Doctors have stressed if you are not sure you should seek medical advice.
