A healthcare expert has revealed that the characteristics of your cough could help identify the winter illness you’re experiencing. The specialist points out that the cough varies depending on whether you have a cold, the flu, or COVID-19.

During the winter months, certain illnesses become more prevalent. The combination of colder weather facilitating virus transmission and people spending more time indoors with others exacerbates the problem.

Identifying the specific illness can be tricky, as many symptoms overlap across these conditions.

To tackle this issue, Dr. Rupa Parmar, a general practitioner and medical director at Midland Health, has shared several strategies to differentiate between these illnesses.

She stated, “There are distinct differences between a common cold, COVID, and the flu that can help you tell them apart. However, if you’re uncertain, it’s always wise to consult your doctor. When it comes to health, erring on the side of caution is best.”

Dr. Parmar’s advice includes identifying variations in coughs linked to COVID-19, the flu, and the common cold. “While coughs are present in all three viruses, they exhibit unique characteristics,” she emphasized.

Cold and flu

She elaborated: “With a cold, a cough will be mild, while a flu cough will seem dry.”

The NHS website clarified that cold symptoms emerge progressively over a two to three-day period.

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By contrast, it stated that flu symptoms “come on very quickly”. According to the health service, “a dry cough” is a characteristic symptom of influenza.

Covid

If you’re suffering from Covid, your cough is likely to be dry and persistent. Dr Parmar explained: “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.”

The NHS characterised this as: “A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours.”

Additional telltale signs of Covid include:

• A high temperature – you may feel hot, cold or shivery, or your skin is hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• An aching body
• A headache
• A sore throat
• A blocked or runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling sick or being sick

The NHS cautioned: “The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.

“For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.”

It continued: “If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist for advice about cough treatments.”

What to do if you have Covid

The NHS advises that you ought to remain at home and limit contact with others if you or your child displays symptoms and either:

• Experience an elevated temperature
• Feel too unwell to attend work, school, childcare, or carry out routine activities

You can resume your usual activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.