Published on Oct 11, 2021 | 2:58 PM
Share Article :
When it comes to respiratory illnesses, COVID-19 and the flu (influenza) share a lot in common. Both are highly contagious, spread in similar ways, and often produce overlapping symptoms.
Many people can find it nearly impossible to tell them apart just by how they feel, especially in the early stages of illness. This overlap is particularly problematic during flu season, when cases of both flu and COVID-19 spike, increasing the chances of infection with one or even both viruses.
Both COVID-19 and the flu can begin with mild symptoms that may gradually or suddenly worsen. They share common symptoms like fever, cough, and fatigue, making it easy to confuse the two.
Knowing the common differences between COVID-19 and the flu can help guide your decisions about treatment, isolation, and when to seek medical care. However, it’s important to remember testing is the most reliable way to confirm your diagnosis. Factors like vaccination status, virus variants, and overall health can also influence how you experience symptoms for both illnesses.
While COVID-19 and the flu share many symptoms, some differences can help you distinguish between them. Understanding these typical variations can be crucial in managing symptoms and deciding whether to seek medical care or get tested. These are the main symptomatic differences commonly experienced:
If you’re feeling unwell, asking yourself the following questions can help you determine whether you might have COVID-19 or the flu before you get tested.
Flu symptoms usually hit hard and fast, often making you feel very ill within a few hours. In contrast, COVID-19 symptoms tend to develop gradually, starting mild and worsening over several days.
A sudden loss of taste or smell is a strong indicator of COVID-19. This symptom is rare in flu cases, so if you’re experiencing it, it’s more likely COVID-19 than the flu.
Knowing whether someone close to you has recently been diagnosed with either illness can offer a clue. If you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you’re more likely to have it, whereas exposure to someone with the flu points toward that diagnosis.
The flu typically resolves within one to two weeks, even for severe cases. If your symptoms persist longer, especially fatigue or respiratory issues, it’s more likely to be COVID-19.
If you’re feeling unwell and suspect you might have COVID-19 or the flu, taking swift and thoughtful action is crucial to protect yourself and others. Follow these steps to manage your symptoms and prevent further spread:
It’s impossible to distinguish between COVID-19 and the flu based on symptoms alone. Testing is the most reliable way to determine whether you have COVID-19 or the flu. Many pharmacies, healthcare providers, and testing centers offer rapid tests for both illnesses. If you test positive for either, it will confirm the next steps in managing your condition. If your test is negative but symptoms persist or worsen, consider retesting or consulting a healthcare provider.
While waiting for test results—or if you test positive—it’s important to isolate yourself to reduce the risk of spreading the illness. Stay home, avoid close contact with others in your household, and wear a mask if you need to interact with anyone. Remain at home until your fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Isolation is crucial to protecting vulnerable individuals and limiting the spread of both COVID-19 and influenza virus.
If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or the flu, inform anyone you’ve been in close contact with. This allows them to monitor their own symptoms, get tested, and take precautions to prevent further spread.
For mild symptoms like a low fever and aches, medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can provide relief. Rest, hydration, and sleep are essential to support recovery at home.
Medical providers can help you treat more bothersome symptoms like a sore throat, cough and congestion, ensuring a smoother recovery.
For severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or an unrelenting high fever, seek emergency medical care immediately. Prompt attention is critical for your safety.
If your symptoms last longer than expected or worsen despite treatment, follow up with your healthcare provider. Persistent fatigue or respiratory issues, especially after COVID-19, may require further evaluation and care.
Yes, the common cold and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can also share symptoms like cough, congestion, and fatigue. However, colds are usually milder, and RSV more often causes wheezing or severe breathing issues, especially in young children and older adults.
Yes, you can get both COVID-19 and the flu simultaneously. Co-infections are possible, especially during flu season. If you think you might have both, consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as well as annual flu vaccines are the best protection. Wash your hands often, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and consider wearing a mask in crowded areas, especially if you have a compromised immune system or are considered to be at a high risk for these illnesses.
When you’re unwell, staying home is often the safest and most comfortable option. Call-On-Doc makes it easy to access fast, reliable care, offering both online COVID-19 treatment and online flu treatment.
Whether you need antiviral drugs like Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir) or Lagevrio (molnupiravir) for COVID-19, or Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for the flu, we provide prescriptions in just 15 minutes—no appointments required.
Skip the hassle of in-person visits and recover quickly with Call-On-Doc’s convenient, at-home care. Start your online consultation today!
Sources:
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides.
Why is Washing your Hands so Important?
Keeping your hands clean can significantly reduce the risk of getting ill, especially when upper respiratory viruses are prevalent. Not just meant for keeping your hands clean, washing your hands helps you stay healthy!
Jul 09, 2022 | 10:08 AM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to the Flu
Every year, millions of Americans get sick, go to the doctor, and suffer hospitalizations all because of influenza. The virus, most commonly referred to as the flu, comes in multiple variations and has been the source of many global epidemics. One exceedingly deadly pandemic caused by influenza came in the form of the Spanish flu. Ravaging the public in 1918 and 1919, the virus would go on to take the lives of 21 million Americans. Put into perspective, that’s more than WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. (1) Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, flu CDC statistics show significantly reduced deaths in spite of how influenza spreads.
In recent years of high influenza spread, the flu CDC statistics for flu deaths by year resulted in:
|
Year |
2016-2017 |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cases |
29 million |
41 million |
29 million |
36 million |
|
Deaths |
38,000 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
25,000 |
In the case of 2020 to 2021, the CDC admits that flu cases were so low that they would not be recorded. (2) While the numbers vary wildly year by year, the evidence shows that influenza mortality rates have improved in the United States despite how aggressively the flu spreads. Initiatives that may have helped reduce the rates include educating people about the flu virus, best practices, and prevention methods.
Sep 26, 2023 | 4:05 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as SARS-Cov-2 or simply Covid-19, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that caused an international pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Having pushed the United States government to assist in the development of vaccines and treatment in the first year of the pandemic, the virus has the capacity to be severe in at-risk individuals but tends to cause only mild symptoms in healthy adults and few to none in children. Like other viruses affecting the respiratory system, Covid-19 spreads through droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze.
Oct 24, 2023 | 5:21 PM
Why is Washing your Hands so Important?
Keeping your hands clean can significantly reduce the risk of getting ill, especially when upper respiratory viruses are prevalent. Not just meant for keeping your hands clean, washing your hands helps you stay healthy!
Jul 09, 2022 | 10:08 AM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to the Flu
Every year, millions of Americans get sick, go to the doctor, and suffer hospitalizations all because of influenza. The virus, most commonly referred to as the flu, comes in multiple variations and has been the source of many global epidemics. One exceedingly deadly pandemic caused by influenza came in the form of the Spanish flu. Ravaging the public in 1918 and 1919, the virus would go on to take the lives of 21 million Americans. Put into perspective, that’s more than WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. (1) Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, flu CDC statistics show significantly reduced deaths in spite of how influenza spreads.
In recent years of high influenza spread, the flu CDC statistics for flu deaths by year resulted in:
|
Year |
2016-2017 |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cases |
29 million |
41 million |
29 million |
36 million |
|
Deaths |
38,000 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
25,000 |
In the case of 2020 to 2021, the CDC admits that flu cases were so low that they would not be recorded. (2) While the numbers vary wildly year by year, the evidence shows that influenza mortality rates have improved in the United States despite how aggressively the flu spreads. Initiatives that may have helped reduce the rates include educating people about the flu virus, best practices, and prevention methods.
Sep 26, 2023 | 4:05 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as SARS-Cov-2 or simply Covid-19, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that caused an international pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Having pushed the United States government to assist in the development of vaccines and treatment in the first year of the pandemic, the virus has the capacity to be severe in at-risk individuals but tends to cause only mild symptoms in healthy adults and few to none in children. Like other viruses affecting the respiratory system, Covid-19 spreads through droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze.
Oct 24, 2023 | 5:21 PM
Feedback from our amazing patients!
"I can’t believe I did not know about this kind of service! This was absolutely perfect for my health concern and they were able to provide me with the necessary medication and with such cinch. Completely recommended this service. For minor health concerns, this can save you an unnecessary and costly trip to an urgent care center."
"Amazing!! Easy and fast! I didn’t have to take my 4 year old into an urgent care where only god knows what germs are there. The doctor sent the script right to my pharmacy within minutes!!!"
"I would give 10 stars if I could! CallonDoc is literally the reason I am recovering instead of suffering as I write this. I was skeptical at first, but I’m not kidding when I tell you I got prescribed my antibiotics and picked it up at the pharmacy within 2 hours. So instead of waiting & paying around 300$...I paid 40$!! I’m very pleased."
Be the first to know when we offer deals.
Want to learn about a specific topic or condition?