As the winter season sets in, distinguishing between COVID-19, the flu, and the common cold becomes increasingly challenging due to their overlapping symptoms. However, recognizing which illness you have is crucial for seeking appropriate treatment. In light of this, a general practitioner has highlighted a critical symptom that could suggest a COVID-19 infection as opposed to a cold or flu.

Dr. Rupa Parmar, a GP and medical director at Midland Health, emphasizes the importance of identifying the correct illness. She advises: “There are definitive differences between a common cold, COVID-19, and the flu that can help in identifying them. If uncertainty persists, consulting a doctor is prudent. Health should never be taken lightly.”

One significant indicator that Dr. Parmar points out is experiencing shortness of breath. She explains, “Shortness of breath is uncommon in both colds and the flu, but because COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs through inflammation, it becomes a prevalent symptom.”

This assertion is corroborated by the NHS, which lists shortness of breath as a hallmark of COVID-19, distinguishing it from the flu or a cold. The symptom is more frequently associated with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“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,” she said.

This is supported by the NHS, which lists shortness of breath as a sign of Covid and not flu or a cold. This is more commonly found in the case of illnesses such as Covid or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

But it is important to note that if a person doesn’t recover from the flu and it develops into something more serious, they may start to experience breathing difficulties. This can occur if the patient has pneumonia, for example.

On top of this Dr Parmar revealed that there are variations between the types of cough you can get with these illnesses. She said: “Coughs are common in all three viruses, but they have differences.

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“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.”

Another key sign to look for is a loss of smell or taste. She said: “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. 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.”

On a more general note she added that the speed in which symptoms hit can vary. Dr Parmar said: “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.”

What to do if you have Covid symptoms

Although there are no longer self-isolation rules in place, the NHS says you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:

• Have a high temperature
• Do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

It says: “You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.”