Do I Have COVID or Is It Something Else?
Friday, December 10th, 2021, 6:17 am
During the winter months, people are more likely to catch contagious viruses, including the common cold and influenza. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no wonder that people worry that they have COVID-19 whenever they have a cough or scratchy throat. Here, we’ll discuss how you can differentiate between COVID-19 and other common viral infections at home. Keep in mind that if you’re feeling sick, you can visit Suncoast Urgent Care for prompt medical attention.
Do I Have COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The symptoms and severity of this viral infection can vary greatly from case to case, which makes it difficult to identify without a COVID-19 test.
The possible symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Headache
- New loss of smell or taste
- Congestion
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Body aches
Conditions That Can Mimic COVID-19
- The common cold
The common cold is a virus infection often caused by rhinoviruses. The most common symptoms of a common cold are sneezing, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, coughing, and post-nasal drip. While some of these symptoms are shared with COVID-19, you won’t experience vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea with a common cold.
- Influenza
The flu is a viral infection that shares many symptoms with COVID-19, including fatigue, headache, fever, body aches, diarrhea, and vomiting. However, the symptoms of COVID-19 that aren’t common with an influenza infection include new loss of smell or taste and difficulty breathing.
- Strep throat
Strep throat is a contagious bacterial infection. It usually causes a sore throat, which is a possible symptom of COVID-19. However, strep throat has other symptoms that aren’t seen with COVID-19, including a red, inflamed throat and white patches on the tonsils.
If you’re experiencing potential symptoms of COVID-19, visit Suncoast Urgent Care for COVID-19 testing and reliable medical care as soon as possible. We provide expert care for adults and children of all ages!
Category: COVID