Is It a Cold? The Flu? Or COVID? – AARP

Another symptom thats more typical with COVID-19 than with the flu or a cold is diarrhea, Shaw says. It may not be as prevalent as some of the other COVID symptoms, but people still get it with a coronavirus infection. Diarrhea is not a common sign of flu in adults (it is in kids, though), nor does it usually accompany a cold.

That said, there are other viral and bacterial illnesses that can give you diarrhea, so that alone doesnt mean it can only be COVID. But if youre trying to differentiate, I would say that those elements, if theyre present, might be helpful, Shaw says.

Finally, disorientation could point to COVID-19, especially in older adults, says Kenneth Koncilja, M.D., a geriatrician at Cleveland Clinic.

Older adults often present atypically. And with these recent BA.4 and BA.5 [variants], Ive seen more of my older adults present with symptoms of confusion [and test positive for COVID-19], where you might think its a urinary tract infection, he says.

So, if you or a friend or family member is experiencing a sudden onset of confusion, dont rule out COVID-19, even if theres no fever (older adults often dont run fevers the same way younger people do, both Shaw and Koncilja note) or any of the other usual symptoms, like cough or fatigue.

Its a little disconcerting, because so many things can cause confusion, Koncilja adds. Thats why its important to talk to your primary care doctor or provider if you experience it.

Sneezing a lot? Thats typically a symptom thats more commonwith a coldthan with flu or COVID-19, the National Institutes of Health says. And chances are if you have a cold, you wont experience the body aches and fever that accompany the other two infections.

A crucial tool this time of year is anat-home COVID-19 test. That way, if you start to feel sick, you can check to see if your symptoms are due to COVID-19 in a matter of minutes.

Most private insurance companies cover the cost of these over-the-counter tests, and Medicare beneficiaries can receiveup to eight a month, free of charge. You can also check in with a nearby health center to see if it offers COVID-19 test kits to members of the community.

Particularly given the nonspecific nature of a lot of COVID symptoms and the fact that there can be a diminished fever response and other kinds of atypical symptoms, I think the safest thing would be to definitely test, Shaw says.

If youre positive for COVID-19, you may beeligible for an antiviral treatmentthat can significantly lessen your chances of severe illness. Two have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration: Paxlovid, from Pfizer, and molnupiravir, from Merck and Ridgeback.

Its important to start these medicines early in the disease course, though, so talk to your doctor right away if you find out you have COVID-19. Some pharmacists can also prescribe the pills, or you can find them at one-stoptest-to-treat centers.

If you test negative for COVID but symptoms persist, your health care provider may conduct a flu test. As with COVID-19, prescription antiviral treatments taken early on can help you feel better if you have flu.

If its a cold, there is no miracle cure. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says lots of rest and plenty of fluids can help you recover, and over-the-counter medicines may help ease symptoms youre experiencing.

One way to lower your likelihood of getting the flu or COVID-19 or both at the same time, becausethats a possibility is to get vaccinated against each disease. Not everyone who gets vaccinated will be able to completely avoid an infection, but the separate shots can blunt the severity of symptoms and help to keep you out of the hospital.

When it comes to COVID-19,health experts recommend that fully vaccinated adults roll up their sleeves this fall for one of thenew omicron boosters. There are two options, one from Moderna (for individuals 18 and older) and one from Pfizer-BioNTech (people 12 and older can opt for this one).

For flu, adults 65 and older should ask for ahigh-dose vaccine this year, new CDC recommendations say. There are three options to choose from, but experts say the differences among them are minimal, so for most people, the best one to get is the one your doctor or pharmacist has available. Theres no need to space out your flu and COVID-19 shots, so if its more convenient to get them at the same visit, the CDC says that can be done.

And while there is no vaccine to help prevent a cold, there are several things you can do to avoid one: Wash your hands often; stay away from people who are sick; and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. These measures can also help you avoid the flu and COVID-19.

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Is It a Cold? The Flu? Or COVID? - AARP