We all get hit with a cold every now and then, but how do you know whether it’s actually a cold, hay fever or even Covid-19? Fear not, there are differences between the symptoms of hay fever, a cold and coronavirus and here at Kleenex we’ve compared them all, so you don’t have to.
Is it Covid or a cold?
When you’re feeling under the weather, telling the difference between symptoms isn’t a walk in the park, so to make things easier, the Mayo Clinic has put together a useful table to help:
To clarify further, the NHS has identified three main symptoms of coronavirus. These are:
- High temperature
- Continuous cough
- Change or loss in smell or taste
If you’re suffering with a cold or flu and want to double-check it’s not COVID-19, here’s a quick three-step guide for each.
COVID-19 or the common cold?
The common cold shares fewer symptoms with coronavirus than the flu, so it should be easier for you to tell the difference.
1. Symptoms of COVID-19 that are not symptoms of the common cold:
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Fever (a temperature over 37.8 degrees Celsius)
- A loss or change to sense of smell or taste (usually sudden)
- Diarrhoea (sometimes for children)
2. Symptoms of the common cold that are not symptoms of COVID-19:
- A stuffy nose
- Sneezing
3. Symptoms that COVID-19 and the common cold share:
- Fatigue
- Coughing – although with COVID-19, a cough is more likely be severe, dry and continuous
- Aches and pains – although these are more common with a common cold
- Sore throat – although this is more common with a common cold
COVID-19 or the flu?
Although many symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu overlap, there are some key differences that are useful to be aware of.
1. Symptoms of COVID-19 that are not symptoms of the flu:
- A loss or change to sense of smell or taste (usually sudden)
- Shortness of breath
2. Symptoms of the flu that are not symptoms of COVID-19:
- A stuffy nose
- Feeling sick or being sick
3. Symptoms that COVID-19 and the flu share:
- Fever (a temperature over 37.8 degrees Celsius)
- Diarrhoea (especially for children)
- Dry cough – although this is more continuous with COVID-19
- Sore throat
- Fatigue – although this is more common with the flu
- Headaches – although this is more common with the flu
- Aches and pains – although these are more common with the flu
If you’re worried about any of your symptoms, always take recommended COVID-19 precautions and get professional medical advice.
Is it Covid or hay fever?
Allergy sufferers have long wondered about their hay fever vs cold symptoms, but to add another touch of reassurance, Allergy UK has outlined the important differences between the virus and hay fever.
1. Symptoms of COVID-19 that are not symptoms of hay fever:
- Highly contagious – so if someone in your family who does not usually have hay fever suddenly comes down with symptoms, it’s not likely to be hay fever that’s causing them
- Fever with a body temperature of anything above 37.8 degrees centigrade (despite the name, hay fever does not create a rise in body temperature)
2. Symptoms of hay fever that are not symptoms of COVID-19:
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Itchy, stuffy nose
3. The key symptoms that COVID-19 and hay fever both include:
- Coughing and wheezing are lesser-known symptoms of hay fever and are also one of the key COVID-19 symptoms
- The itchy throat associated with hay fever can lead to a cough or make you tight-chested, which is exacerbated if you get pollen-induced asthma. Remember, if you have trouble breathing you must seek urgent medical advice
- In COVID-19 a common symptom is a new cough that is prolonged and does not go away. It can also cause breathing difficulties and shortness of breath, which can be a medical emergency
- If in doubt about these, or any other symptoms, always take recommended COVID-19 precautions and seek medical advice
Practising good hygiene is always important, but even more so these days, particularly when flu season begins. We recommend using hot water and soap to wash your hands regularly, for at least 60 seconds, then drying with a clean dry towel. With the new Kleenex® Proactive Care range , you can be ready for every situation, whether it is a cough or a sneeze. Reduce the spread of germs by taking charge, catching them in a tissue and binning it1.
All hay fever content and advice is provided on behalf of Allergy UK in partnership with Kleenex®
Hay fever, a cold or COVID-19?
Knowing the pollen count where you are can also help you with understanding whether you have hay fever, a cold, the flu or coronavirus. Check out Your Pollen Pal tool to take a look at the pollen levels where you are so you can plan fun with friends worry-free.
This article has been expertly reviewed by Jin Zhang, Director of Global Medical Affairs at Kimberly-Clark
1 https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/09/catch-bin-kill.pdf
The content should not substitute medical advice from your personal healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations/diagnosis or treatment
