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When Your Sniffles Could Be COVID-19, Flu, Cold, or Allergies

Feeling sick can be especially concerning these days. Could your sniffles be caused by COVID-19? Or the flu? A cold? Or maybe allergies? Determining the cause of an illness can be tricky because many share some symptoms, leaving you sniffling, coughing, and feeling tired. But there are important differences. Figuring out what’s making you sick can help you recover and prevent spreading sickness to others.

COVID-19 vs. Flu

COVID-19 and flu are caused by different viruses—SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus, respectively—but they can produce similar symptoms and spread in similar ways. Both can give you a fever, cough, headaches, and body aches and are transmitted by small particles from your nose and mouth when you sneeze, cough, sing, or talk. Infected people may not have symptoms but can still pass the viruses to others.

  • Incubation period: Flu symptoms appear 1–4 days after infection; COVID-19 symptoms typically appear about 5 days after infection (range 2–14 days).
  • Distinctive symptom: Loss of smell or taste can be a telling sign of COVID-19 in some cases.
  • Diagnosis: Testing is the only way to be certain—get a COVID test at pharmacies or health centers and ask your doctor about flu testing.

Colds

Colds are also caused by viruses and are contagious, but symptoms tend to be mild. You may have a runny nose, cough, congestion, and sore throat, but you usually won’t have the aches and fever common with flu and COVID-19. Often, you’ll feel better in a couple of days.

Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms:

  • Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines.
  • Honey may help with nighttime cough in children over 1 year old.
  • Nasal rinses (e.g., with a neti pot) using distilled or boiled water can relieve congestion.

Allergies

Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, and itching of the eyes, nose, or ears. They are not contagious and result from the immune system overreacting to triggers such as dust, pets, or pollen. Symptoms stop when you’re no longer exposed to the allergen, and unless you have asthma, allergies typically do not cause breathing problems.

Treatment options include antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroids.

Seasonality and Coinfections

Winter is the prime cold and flu season because people spend more time indoors and viruses survive better in cooler, low-humidity conditions. Flu cases usually rise around October and peak between December and February. It is possible to be infected with flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

Treatments

If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and shorter, especially when started early. For COVID-19, the FDA has approved remdesivir, and other treatments are in development. No complementary approaches have been shown to help fight flu or COVID-19.

Editor’s Note: Treatment guidelines are evolving. Talk with your doctor about currently available medications.

Prevention

  • Masking and social distancing help prevent the spread of COVID-19, flu, and colds.
  • Get vaccinated: COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 5 years and older; flu vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. Don’t forget to vaccinate children.
  • Avoid crowded indoor situations when possible.