Cold, Flu, Allergies and COVID

Be aware of your health, monitor symptoms, and take precautions to stay healthy. Colds, flu and allergies haven’t been very prevalent in the past year or so because of the layers of COVID-19 precautions. However, we are starting to see them return.

COVID-19, ALLERGY, FLU AND COLD SYMPTOMS

COVID-19, allergies, flu and cold symptoms can seem very similar, and it can be difficult to know the difference. Consider this chart, adopted from the Mayo Clinic, as a guide to help you identify what symptoms pertain to what illnesses.

SYMPTOM OR SIGN	COVID-19	COLD	FLU	ALLERGY
Cough	Usually (dry)	Usually	Usually	Sometimes
Muscle aches	Usually	Sometimes	Usually	Never
Tiredness	Usually	Sometimes	Usually	Sometimes
Sneezing	Rarely	Sometimes	Never	Usually
Sore throat	Usually	Usually	Usually	Rarely
Runny or stuffy nose	Usually	Usually	Usually	Usually
Fever	Usually	Sometimes	Usually	Never
Diarrhea	Sometimes	Never	Sometimes (more common in children)	Never
Nausea or vomiting	Sometimes	Never	Sometimes (more common in children)	Never
New loss of taste or smell	Usually	Sometimes (especially with a stuffy nose)	Rarely	Sometimes
Itchy nose, eyes, mouth, or inner ear	Rarely	Never	Never	Usually
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)	Sometimes	Never	Never	Sometimes
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing	Usually	Rarely	Usually	Sometimes

*scale rankings - usually, sometimes, rarely, never

BASIC PRECAUTIONS

While colds, flu, allergies, and COVID-19 may be treated differently, the same basic precautions can help keep you healthy. Consider the following safety measures:

Get vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu
Wash your hands frequently
Avoid touching your face
Stay away from crowds and people who are sick
Practice social distancing
Wear a mask to protect yourself and others

WHEN TO TEST

If your symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, you should get tested. Students, when you contact the Health Center, they’ll help you decide whether you should test for COVID-19. If you’re exhibiting symptoms and waiting for a COVID-19 test result, you should self-quarantine, which means stay home and limit your exposure to others until the test has been returned.

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