Is It a Cold, Flu, or COVID? Your Quick Guide to Winter Symptoms and When to Call a GP.

Introduction

Winter is back, and you might not know which winter virus is causing sniffles, sore throats, cold, flu, and fatigue. You may encounter people having one of these or multiple conditions, which is alarming that the winter viruses are in action.

The recent evidence has provided high or increasing circulation of flu and  COVID-19 subvariants. As we are entering the winter season, the rates of respiratory illnesses are starting to rise, and people continue to suffer from the winter viruses. 

However, the main problem with people is to understand, identify, and manage different symptoms related to cold, flu, or COVID. You might also be confused about managing your condition at home or consulting a GP, because of the overlapping symptoms of these conditions

In the following sections, we have developed a clear, easy, and science-backed guide to help you understand and identify the three main winter viruses: cold, flu, and COVID-19. 

Understanding the Winter Virus Triage

The winter virus triage is the process used in hospitals and clinics to rapidly identify, sort, and manage patients struggling with common winter diseases such as influenza, the common cold, and COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to understand each of these viruses to help you manage them effectively. These viruses are commonly known as the common cold, influenza, and COVID-19. 

Common Cold (Rhinovirus)

The common cold is an infection of the nose, throat, and windpipe. The common cold can cause 200 different types of viruses. However, the most common cold virus is rhinovirus. We call it the common cold because of its widespread effects on humans, and you will probably have more colds in your life than any other disease.

Influenza (Flu)

Influenza is a flu that you can get from the influenza virus. The influenza virus infects the nose, throat, and lungs, which are essential parts of the respiratory system. The influenza virus is contagious and quickly causes infection, producing mild to severe symptoms.

COVID-19

You must be well aware of this respiratory illness because of the damage caused during the global pandemic. The virus that causes COVID-19 is the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is a type of coronavirus. This is a respiratory illness and produces symptoms like a cold and influenza. 

Symptom Comparison: Cold, Flu, or COVID?

Many people get confused when they get a cold or the flu, and they are unable to distinguish between the characteristics of these health conditions. However, you must be able to identify and manage the symptoms of each to know which winter virus has infected you. You can easily identify if the virus that has infected you is the common cold, influenza, or coronavirus using these indicators: 

Onset speed: flu appears suddenly and remains, while cold builds gradually in your body. COVID has a different mechanism than cold and flu. 

Fever: You may experience a high fever if you get the flu and COVID. However, you will only have a mild fever in case of a cold. 

Cough: If you are experiencing a dry cough, it is probably COVID that has infected you. However, you will get a chesty cough with the flu. Light coughs are common if you get a cold.

Fatigue: You may experience severe fatigue if you have developed Flu and COVID. But fatigue is mild in colds. 

It is important to stay updated with COVID variants because they mimic the pattern and symptoms of the flu. For example, loss of smell is a symptom of COVID, but it is becoming a symptom of new variants of COVID. 

How to Know if You Need Help from a GP? 

Many people find it hard to know if they can contain the possible impacts of winter viruses on their health. They get confused about whether they need help or not because of the symptoms of winter viruses and their possible health impact. You can make some simple rules to manage your health conditions at home. 

• If you have mild symptoms of the winter viruses and it does not cause harm or fatigue, you can easily manage them at home with fluids, bed rest, and over-the-counter medicines for cough and painkillers. 
• If your fever lasts for more than three days, without normalisation in cough, pain, and breath-shortness, you need to immediately contact your GP to discuss your worsening condition and how you have been managing your health at home. 
• In case you are struggling hard with breathlessness, high chest pain, confusion, and dehydration, you need to see a health professional immediately in emergency conditions, to avoid further loss of health. 

Prevention and Protection from Winter Viruses

It is important for you to understand that winter viruses can be avoided easily through a variety of health approaches that you can adopt to stay healthy. Your blended efforts include your healthy lifestyle, medications, hygiene, and making your place of living conditioned for the prevention of winter viruses. 

⦁ To prevent and protect yourself from the winter viruses, eat healthy food that supports your growth and boosts your immune system to defend against illness. You may want to consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. 

⦁ You need to stay physically active and enjoy the fresh air by doing exercises regularly. This is important to reduce stress hormones and boost your immune system.

⦁ You need to understand the action of winter viruses. You need to prevent it by washing your hands thoroughly and frequently. You may want to reduce contact with others without washing your hands. 

⦁ You need to avoid touching your face with unclean hands, as it may lead to the transmission of the winter viruses to your eyes, nose, and mouth. 

⦁ You must get the necessary vaccination to protect yourself from COVID-19 and the flu. Talk to your family members and get the flu vaccine to develop defence against influenza for everyone in your house over six months old. 

⦁ You can prevent the winter viruses at home by disinfecting the common places that can spread the winter viruses, such as countertops, door handles, and other high-touch surfaces. 

Treatment and Recovery Tips

Flu: You can easily treat yourself if you have the flu at home using over-the-counter medicines. For example, you can use pain relievers to reduce the fever, headache, and body aches. You can get ibuprofen and acetaminophen according to your needs. Also, you can use decongestants like pseudo-ephedrine to relieve the pressure in your sinuses. Moreover, you need to stay at home, drink plenty of water, get bed rest, eat healthy food, and get a flu shot for speedy recovery. 

Common Cold: If you have a common cold, you can use over-the-counter medications to reduce the symptoms, because the common cold has no cure. Most colds go away on their own within 7 to 10 days. 

COVID-19: The treatment and recovery of COVID-19 depend on the severity and risk factors of the virus impacting your health. If you are not at high risk and have mild illness, you can recover at home with rest and care. You only need to manage your items and do not need medical care if you have mild to moderate COVID-19. In severe cases, you need to get treated with antiviral medications. However, you may feel better and recover from the common symptoms like congestion, sore throat, and cough in about two weeks. But, you may carry the symptoms like breath-shortness and tiredness for weeks. 

Online Health Support to Combat Winter Viruses 

If you are struggling with your symptoms for any of the winter viruses that we have discussed above, you can immediately contact an online doctor to discuss your condition and failing health. A lot of online resources are available to check your symptoms and understand them by yourself. However, if you feel that you need expert advice on your health, you should immediately consult an online GP who can provide you with input on your condition. With Eirdoc, you can be at ease, as a GP consultation can help you in understanding your symptoms, the need for medication, managing your symptoms at home, and any medical advice for further treatment. 

Conclusion

It is important to understand your symptoms and know about winter virus triage to assess yourself using the available and credible information. In case you get one of the winter viruses, you need to protect yourself and recover from these with the help of medications, a healthy lifestyle, understanding the mechanism of action of each disease and virus, and digital triage tools and GP consultation, when required.