01/07/2021
In an era where face masks, sanitizers, and social distancing have become the norm, the similarities between the symptoms of Coronavirus and that of a common cold/flu have caused anxiety and worry to many people. People need to learn how to differentiate the symptoms of both to reduce the number of false alarms and encourage early diagnosis of the Coronavirus.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly found variant of CORONAVIRUS. It was first reported on December 31, 2019, and by January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a global health emergency.
Covid-19 Symptoms
Common symptoms of COVID can range from mild to severe; they include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
- Cough
- Headache
- Loss of taste
- Loss of smell
- Rashes
- Short breaths
- Difficulty in breathing
- Immobility.
The very mild symptoms of Coronavirus are usually, and understandably, written off as a cold. The common cold and COVID-19 are viral infections, so they tend to have similar symptoms. If you’re wondering what is the difference between COVID and common cold/flu, here are some notable differences.
- In cases of the common cold, there are minimal or no muscle aches
- Common cold doesn’t cause diarrhea or vomiting.
- Common cold only causes fever in rare cases.
- General recovery time for the common cold is usually between 3 to 10 days when there are no underlying issues.
Sore Throat And Coronavirus
The connection between sore throat and Coronavirus is actually very little. Sore throat is one of the less common symptoms of Coronavirus. Covid sore throat was only recorded in a small number of people infected with the virus.
How Do You Know If It’s COVID Or Just A Cold
Most people often ask ‘is it covid or not?’ Well, you can only be sure of your symptoms by seeing qualified medical personnel and getting a proper covid test done.
However, in cases where medical help isn’t near, it’s advisable to take safety precautions based on the probability that you might have caught the SARS-COV-2 virus and isolate yourself from others while keeping track of your symptoms.
To ease your sore throat, you should:
- Take fluids to help you stay hydrated.
- Tea and non-spicy broths are tested and trusted home remedies.
- Use pain relievers if the pain is unbearable
- Eat foods that’ll help your immune system fight infection.
The Bottom Line
Sore throat on its own isn’t a cause for alarm, sore throat with other symptoms might require medical attention, but sore throat with other symptoms pointing to Covid-19 needs urgent medical attention and proper care. If you suspect that you’re infected with the SARS-COV-2 virus, you may not need to go and see a doctor immediately. It’s recommended to go into self-quarantine immediately to watch your symptoms.




