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How can you tell if your symptoms are a cold, the flu or the coronavirus?
https://www.pennlive.com ^ | Jan. 07, 2022, 7:02 a.m. | By VICTORIA MILKO

Posted on 01/14/2022 8:14:57 AM PST by Red Badger

How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19?

Experts say testing is the best way to determine what you have since symptoms of the illnesses can overlap.

The viruses that cause colds, the flu and COVID-19 are spread the same way — through droplets from the nose and mouth of infected people. And they can all be spread before a person realizes they’re infected.

The time varies for when someone with any of the illnesses will start feeling sick. Some people infected with the coronavirus don’t experience any symptoms, but it’s still possible for them to spread it.

Cough, fever, tiredness and muscle aches are common to both the flu and COVID-19, says Kristen Coleman, as assistant research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Symptoms specific to COVID-19 include the loss of taste or smell.

Common colds, meanwhile, tend to be milder, with symptoms including a stuffy nose and sore throat. Fevers are more common with the flu.

Despite some false portrayals online, the viruses have not merged to create a new illness. But it’s possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, which some are calling “flurona.”

“A co-infection of any kind can be severe or worsen your symptoms altogether,” says Coleman. “If influenza cases continue to rise, we can expect to see more of these types of viral co-infections in the coming weeks or months.”

With many similar symptoms caused by the three virus types, testing remains the best option to determine which one you may have. At-home tests for flu aren’t as widely available as those for COVID-19, but some pharmacies offer testing for both viruses at the same time, Coleman notes. This can help doctors prescribe the right treatment.

Laboratories might also be able to screen samples for various respiratory viruses, including common cold viruses. But most do not have the capacity to routinely do this, especially during a COVID-19 surge, Coleman says.

Getting vaccinated helps reduce the spread of the viruses. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is safe to get a flu and COVID-19 shot or booster at the same time.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: 1moretime; colds; covid; flu; vaccines
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To: Red Badger

500 words that essentially contain no information except get vaccinated


21 posted on 01/14/2022 8:31:01 AM PST by P-Marlowe (I got the <ΙΧΘΥΣ>< variant. Catch it. John 3:16)
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To: Red Badger

Does it even matter? None are curable, all are transmissable, so stay away from others and do what is needed to mitigate the symptoms and boost your immune system. If whatever you have becomes life threatening, seek medical attention.


22 posted on 01/14/2022 8:32:18 AM PST by Cecily
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To: Red Badger

The real answer is you can’t. Treat Covid like the flu, the flu like Covid.

Take NAC, Zinc with Quercetin, and vitamins C and D3.

Get plenty of rest but some fresh air also. Treat your fever and pain with Tylenol.

Take it easy, don’t panic. You’ve been down this road before. 7-14 days max.


23 posted on 01/14/2022 8:33:20 AM PST by Alas Babylon! (Rush, we're missing your take on all of this!)
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To: Yo-Yo

Should have had one more beer (20) to get the proper number of trials for statistical significance. That’s how CDC does it !


24 posted on 01/14/2022 8:33:48 AM PST by Reily
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To: Red Badger

Yeh, get that vaxx. 🙄


25 posted on 01/14/2022 8:33:55 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Cecily

OMG if you can’t breath go to a doctor otherwise take of yourself just like you would at any other time in your life this is just getting to be ridiculous people just can’t be this stupid!!


26 posted on 01/14/2022 8:35:01 AM PST by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: Red Badger

Quick at-home Covid test.

https://media.patriots.win/post/Ph0LM9uW49aM.jpeg

Link only for language.


27 posted on 01/14/2022 8:37:10 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Alas Babylon!
The real answer is you can’t.

Maybe you can if you check you O2 as well. In November and December of both 2020 and last year I felt like crap most days in the morning and then felt great by 1 or 2PM. But I checked my temp and O2 all the time and they were always fine, so I just put it down to having the creeping grungies...
28 posted on 01/14/2022 8:41:31 AM PST by BikerJoe
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To: Red Badger

so, hard to distinguish between cold, flu or rona??

seems like a blanket cya?


29 posted on 01/14/2022 8:43:05 AM PST by thinden
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To: Red Badger
How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19?

I don't know, but if you go to a hospital, they'll call it COVID-19 no matter what it is, and the press will count you as dead from COVID as soon as the hospital claims you have it.

30 posted on 01/14/2022 8:44:19 AM PST by libertylover (Our BIGGEST problem, by far, is that most of the media is hate & agenda driven, not truth driven.)
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To: Alas Babylon!

Take NAC, Zinc with Quercetin, and vitamins C and D3

***********************************

What is NAC?

thanks.


31 posted on 01/14/2022 8:46:27 AM PST by bramps (It's the Islam, stupid!)
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To: BenLurkin

It’s Covid if the hospital administrator has a wrench in his pocket.


32 posted on 01/14/2022 8:49:18 AM PST by hardspunned (former GOP globalist stooge)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

*** helps reduce the spread of the viruses***

LOL! Reminded me of an old TV Brylcreem advertisement from 62 years ago.

“HELPS YOU KEEP THE HAIR YOU’VE GOT!”

It was pulled for being FALSE.


33 posted on 01/14/2022 8:56:33 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar (BACK IN FACEBOOK JAIL, Another 30 days. On GAB now. Some real cranks there!)
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To: Red Badger

Everything is Covid.


34 posted on 01/14/2022 8:59:25 AM PST by mykroar (There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. - Sun Tzu)
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To: Red Badger

Who cares?


35 posted on 01/14/2022 9:15:30 AM PST by Stingray51 ( )
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
What a totally useless article for the uninformed and incurious average

You, sir, have hit the nail on the head. I have been saying for quite some time, that the problem with today's society, and their willingness to go along with whatever they're told is that most people are incurious.
36 posted on 01/14/2022 9:15:33 AM PST by rickomatic ( )
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To: Yo-Yo

lol


37 posted on 01/14/2022 9:19:13 AM PST by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: Red Badger

Don’t test, it only encourages them.


38 posted on 01/14/2022 9:19:13 AM PST by Tallguy
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To: Red Badger

Some people infected with the coronavirus don’t experience any symptoms, but it’s still possible for them to spread it.>>>.Lie number one


39 posted on 01/14/2022 9:44:44 AM PST by kvanbrunt2
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To: bramps

“What is NAC?”

N-acetyl cysteine primarily used for cellular free radical protection.


40 posted on 01/14/2022 10:06:35 AM PST by LastDayz (A blunt and brazen Texan. I will not be assimilated.)
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