As the winter months approach, so does flu season. It’s something we think about every year at this time, but it’s different this season as we continue to battle COVID-19. Even in an ordinary year, it may be hard to tell if those sniffles you have are allergies, a common cold or the beginnings of influenza (flu). But this year, we can add COVID-19 to the list of suspects.

So, let’s take a look at the some of the common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Mayo Clinic, so you’ll know what to look for if you get sick.

Similar Symptoms

COVID-19 and the flu are different viruses, but they do have several symptoms in common that could make it difficult to determine which one you have contracted, including:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Headache
• Vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

Different Symptoms

While COVID-19 and the flu have several signs and symptoms in common, there are some differences, including:

• You may experience loss of taste or smell with COVID-19. 
• COVID-19 symptoms generally appear 2 to 14 days after exposure, while flu symptoms usually appear about 1 to 4 days after exposure. 

These are only a few of the differences between the signs and symptoms. There are many other differences between COVID-19 and the flu, including:

• The flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses.
• COVID-19 appears to be more contagious and to spread more quickly than the flu.
• Severe illness, such as lung injury, may be more frequent with COVID-19 than with influenza.
• The mortality rate appears to be higher with COVID-19 than the flu.
• COVID-19 can cause different complications from the flu, such as blood clots and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
• There are multiple FDA-licensed influenza vaccines produced annually to protect against the 3 or 4 flu viruses that scientists anticipate will circulate each year. However, there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Vaccine developers and other researchers and manufacturers are expediting the development of a vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Getting your flu shot this year is more important than ever, with the threat of COVID-19.
• The flu can be treated with antiviral drugs. No antiviral drugs are currently approved to treat COVID-19, though some drugs have proven to reduce the severity of the virus. Researchers are currently evaluating many drugs and treatments for COVID-19.

To learn more about the similarities and differences between COVID-19 and the flu, visit CDC.gov