Coronavirus: Information & Resources

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Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID-19 Virus?

This information has been reviewed and approved by Lisa Maier, MD and Rosine Angbanzan, MPH (February 2022)

Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID-19 Virus?

Here's how to tell the difference between allergy symptoms and the novel 2019 Coronavirus.

Symptoms	Allergies	Cold	Influenza	COVID-19
Symptoms begin	Gradually	Gradually	Abruptly	Within 14 days of exposure
Symptoms last	Allergy season	4 - 10 days	5 - 7 days	Varies by person
Body aches	—	✓	✓	Sometimes
Chills	—	Less common	✓	Sometimes
Dry cough	✓	✓	✓	✓
Exposure to germs	—	✓	✓	✓
Fatigue/weakness	Sometimes	✓	✓	✓
Fever	—	Less common	✓	✓
Headaches	✓	Less common	✓	Sometimes
Itchy eyes	✓	—	—	—
Nasal congestion	✓	✓	✓	Less common
Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea	—	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes
New loss of taste or smell	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes	✓
Repeated shaking with chills	—	Sometimes	Sometimes	Sometimes
Runny nose	✓	—	—	Less common
Sneeze	✓	✓	✓	Sometimes
Sore throat	Sometimes	✓	✓	Sometimes
Shortness of breath	Sometimes	Less common	✓	✓
Symptoms get worse	—	—	✓	✓

Symptoms may differ with each new COVID variant. Talk to your doctor for additional information and review the CDC’s variant updates here. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

Think You Have COVID-19?

Stay home and away from others.
Monitor symptoms.
Rest.
Cover coughs and sneezes.
Wash hands with soap and water often.
Treat symptoms.
Contact your doctor if you have a fever, cough, difficulty breathing or existing chronic disease.

The information on our website is medically reviewed and accurate at the time of publication. Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, information may have since changed. CDC.gov and your state’s health department may offer additional guidance.