There’s a lot of overlap between symptoms of the flu, colds and COVID-19, even though they are caused by different viruses.
All three can range from mild to severe with symptoms that vary from person-to-person. Symptoms can be different for different age groups too.
The only way to know if you have COVID-19 is to get tested.
SYMPTOM | FLU | COVID-19 | COLD |
Body aches | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes |
Cough | Common | Common | Common |
Diarrhea | Sometimes | Uncommon | Rare |
Fatigue | Common | Common | Sometimes |
Fever | Common | Common | Rare |
Headaches | Common | Sometimes | Rare |
Loss of taste or smell | Rare | Sometimes | Rare |
Shortness of breath | Never | Common | Rare |
Sneezing | Uncommon | Rare | Common |
Sore throat | Sometimes | Sometimes | Common |
Nausea/vomiting (more common in children) | Sometimes | Uncommon | Rare |
Runny/stuffy nose | Sometimes | Rare | Common |
Itchy/watery eyes | Never | Rare | Never |
For a detailed breakdown of the frequency of symptoms, consult COVID-19 signs, symptoms and severity of disease: A clinician guide by Health Canada.
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