GP and women's health expert Dr Nighat Arif has shared how people can tell the difference between a cold, flu and Covid this winter, noting that certain strains will leave people 'feeling rotten'. Appearing on a recent episode of This Morning, she said it is "really difficult" to tell the three diseases apart because symptoms overlap, but key differences exist.
Key differences in symptoms
Dr Arif explained that a common cold "tends to be milder" out of the three, though she added: "I'm not saying colds can't turn into flu. They can do." Flu, she said, brings more "severe symptoms", including extreme fevers, "extreme amounts" of snot or phlegm, a possible sore throat, and whole-body aches.
With Covid, Dr Arif said it "sits between cold and flu" because the strains are changing, and the symptoms are "very much" similar, which causes confusion. However, she highlighted that Covid can cause a loss of sense of smell and a change in taste, which flu or a cold might not produce. She also noted that Covid can bring diarrhoea symptoms, which flu does not "classically" cause.
How long each illness lasts
Duration can also help identify the illness. Dr Arif said most colds run their course in "about three days", while flu can last for "up to two weeks". The NHS states that with Covid, "most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover", and for some it can be a more serious illness with longer-lasting symptoms.
For those unsure about their condition, the advice is to speak to a local pharmacist for quick advice on symptoms and over-the-counter medicine, or use NHS 111 Online to check symptoms and get directed to the right care.
