Doctor warns key symptom is unique to COVID – Health – News

She explained: “There are some key differences between a common cold, Covid and flu that can easily help you differentiate them. But, if you’re still unsure, always consult your doctor. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to health.”

One specific indicator she talked about stands out as distinctly related with COVID-19. Dr Parmar explained: “A loss of taste or smell is a symptom somewhat unique to Covid. “If you’re experiencing either a change in style or a full loss, it is most seemingly that you’ve got the coronavirus.”

That said, the NHS points out that alterations or loss of smell can result from “diseases such as a cold, flu or COVID-19”. However, the NHS website doesn’t include loss of taste or smell on its flu symptoms page, indicating it may be less prevalent. The health service does list it as a less common cold symptom.

Other symptoms

To better identify which illness you’re dealing with, it’s crucial to monitor all your symptoms. Dr Parmar explained: “Understanding which virus you’ve got relies upon on the mix of symptoms and their severity.

“A mild cough and sore throat are unlikely to be more than a cold, a fever and severe fatigue suggest the flu, while a loss of smell or taste and continuous cough point to Covid.” She added that shortness of breath is another symptom more continuously related with Covid.

“Shortness of breath is rare in both a cold and the flu, but as Covid more so affects the lungs due to inflammation, it is a common symptom,” she famous. The NHS confirms this, itemizing shortness of breath as a Covid indicator somewhat than a flu or cold symptom.

This respiratory issue is more sometimes seen with circumstances like Covid or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

However, it is value noting that if somebody fails to get well from flu and their condition worsens, respiratory issues could emerge. This can occur if the affected person develops pneumonia, for occasion.

Additionally, Dr Parmar identified that the kind of cough varies between these diseases. She explained: “Coughs are common in all three viruses, but they have differences.

“With a cold, a cough will likely be delicate, while a flu cough will appear dry. With Covid, a cough will likely be dry and steady, and many people will cough for more than an hour or have three or more coughing episodes within a day.”