How do I know if I have the cold, flu, Covid or something else?
How do I know if I have the cold, flu, Covid or something else?
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Everyone seems to have a form of cold at the moment. In the winter months, it seems few are safe from some kind of illness. Be it flu, Covid norovirus or even the common cold. While many of the germs that cause this misery can circulate throughout the year, scientists think that the winter surge of flu and cold activity may be because we spend more time indoors and the cold, dry air may weaken our defenses.
![[Graphic showing flu patients in hospital in England]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/09/11/8b43e4773ac62e47f3e6215365c6a4d5Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2NTA2NTc5-2.78647478.jpg)
But knowing what these bugs are and how they spread can help. While it may be difficult to make it through the season totally unscathed, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from these respiratory and stomach viruses. One way to protect yourself from all viruses is to wash your hands.
Seriously. Rigorous and frequent handwashing is crucial to reduce the spread of norovirus, colds, flu and COVID-19. This is especially true after using the bathroom and eating or preparing food, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Do I have the cold, the flu, COVID-19 or something else?. Norovirus is a foodborne illness that can spread through water and contaminated surfaces and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain for about one to three days. The common cold can be caused by several different types of viruses and can cause a runny nose, congestion, cough, sneezing, sore throat, headaches, body aches or low fever for less than a week.
The flu, caused by influenza viruses that are always changing, leads to fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and feeling tired. Flu symptoms tend to hit more quickly than cold symptoms, and can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks.
