With headlines buzzing about new Covid variants and speculation spreading on social media, it’s becoming harder to know whether a scratchy throat or runny nose is a sign of Covid or just a regular seasonal cold.
“Common colds are caused by a range of different viruses, but the most common cause is rhinovirus, which is a small, problematic virus that settles in your nose and throat,” Pall Mall Medical Centre’s GP, Dr Chun Tang, told The Independent.
One virus causes COVID, SARS-CoV-2, a type of coronavirus.
Tang adds, “Both attack the respiratory system, but Covid tends to spread more deeply, sometimes affecting the lungs and even other organs.”
It can be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and Covid because many of their symptoms overlap.
“Both can cause a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and cough,” Tang says.
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Covid can also cause fever, fatigue and muscle aches, as well as loss of taste or smell, although this is less common with newer variants.
“Covid is also likely to make you feel exhausted, as if you were hit by a truck, while a cold usually stays in your head and chest,” Tang adds.
Dr. Bruno Silvestre Lopez, a lecturer in microbiology at Teesside University in the United Kingdom, explains, “Cold symptoms usually last for about a week to 10 days, while Covid symptoms usually last for up to two weeks. Some may suffer from them for a longer period, and they may even last for months.”
Covid can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia or long Covid, that affect multiple body systems, not just the respiratory system.
“You should see a GP if you have a high fever that doesn’t go away, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or if symptoms last more than 10-14 days without improvement,” Tang advises.
He adds, “For Covid specifically, seek help quickly if you feel short of breath or a drop in your oxygen levels.”