Coronavirus: Information & Resources

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Allergies, Cold, Flu or COVID-19 Virus?

This information has been reviewed and approved by Flavia Hoyte, MD and Jared Eddy, MD (March 2020).

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	—	—	✓	✓

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.