What is the difference between a cold, the flu, and COVID-19?

Published Sept. 16, 2020

• Reviewed by Katherine L. Imborek MD

on June 1, 2021

Telling the difference between the common cold, influenza, and COVID-19 can be quite difficult because their symptoms are similar.

Knowing the difference between a cold, the flu, and COVID-19*

Identify the differences in symptoms based on condition
Symptoms	Cold	Flu	COVID-19
Sneezing	X
Sore throat	X	X	X
Runny or stuffy nose	X	X	X
Cough	X	X	X
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing		X	X
Fatigue (tiredness)		X	X
Fever or feeling feverish/chills		X	X
Muscle pain or body aches		X	X
Headache		X	X
Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)		X	X
Change in or loss of taste and smell			X

If you are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, use our MyChart self-checker to determine your next steps.

Still unsure? Have questions? Contact your health care provider today.

COVID-19 is also more contagious and can spread much faster than influenza.
People with COVID-19 may also experience a more severe lung infection.
People with COVID-19 are at greater risk of dying either during or after infection.
In children, COVID-19 can cause a rare, but serious multi-system inflammatory syndrome.