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do i have the flu? how to tell between the flu and other respiratory illnesses
how can you tell the flu from other illnesses? symptoms and timelines can help
5 minute read
getting sick during flu season is common, but do you actually have the influenza virus?
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now that flu season has arrived, the odds of getting sick are a little higher for everyone. between the dry air, which makes it easier for the virus to survive, and people spending more time indoors, it’s challenging to avoid coming into contact with the influenza virus.
but it’s not the only player in town that can put you out of commission for a few days, or longer, depending on how your body responds to it. several others circulate during flu season, making it challenging to distinguish between them.
with a long list of options, when you start feeling the sniffles, sore throat, cough, body aches and fever, knowing what you have is vital to ensure that it’s treated properly.
flu symptoms and their great imitators
the most common symptoms of the flu are:
- fever
- cough
- sore throat
- headache
- muscle and body aches
- extreme tiredness and fatigue
- runny or stuffy nose
however, you can also develop other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, which are more common in children but can happen to anyone.
however, these symptoms alone won’t help determine what you have, as they can all be found in other widespread and common illnesses. you’ve got the common cold, covid-19, respiratory syncytial virus (rsv), mononucleosis (mono) and some bacterial infections, like strep throat, pneumonia and sinusitis.
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let’s break it down by infection and what they’ll most likely do to your body.
common cold
the symptoms of the common cold are often:
- runny nose
- congestion
- sneezing
- sore throat
- cough
- headaches and muscle aches
- feeling tired, fatigued, or malaise
- watery eyes
- low-grade fever
covid-19
covid-19 differs slightly, but is still in the same wheelhouse as the flu, with symptoms including:
- fever
- chills
- fatigue
- weakness
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- sore throat
- runny nose
- sneezing
- loss of smell or taste
- abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting
rsv
rsv presents with the same runny nose, fever, and cough as the flu and covid-19, but can also lead to the development of other symptoms, such as apnea, difficulty eating, drinking, or swallowing and wheezing. decreased appetite and short, shallow, rapid breathing may also occur.
mono
mono is another one that is difficult to distinguish from the flu because it presents almost identically with extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat, body aches and headaches. a person may also notice swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits, a measles-like rash, or swelling in the spleen or liver in more serious cases.
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strep throat
with strep throat, the sore throat is often severe and the most common symptom, causing pain when swallowing and leading to drooling. when it comes to similar symptoms, this one stands out among other possible signs of infection, including fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain and a sandpaper-like rash, if it progresses to scarlet fever.
pneumonia
when a person develops pneumonia, it means the lungs are inflamed. the most common symptoms include:
- dry cough that progresses to a more mucus-like cough
- fever and chills
- shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- chest pain
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- in older adults, confusion, delirium and a lack of fever can also be signs of pneumonia.
sinusitis
a bacterial sinus infection can cause cough, headaches, along with fever and congestion, all of which can also occur when someone has the flu. other symptoms, such as facial, ear, or tooth pain or pressure, thick mucus and post-nasal drip, can also be found in sinusitis.
telling respiratory illnesses apart
the issue with distinguishing the flu from other conditions is that most, if not all, flu symptoms can also be present in other illnesses. however, not all symptoms of the other conditions will be present if you have the flu.
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while the symptoms can be challenging to identify, there are subtle ways to use them to distinguish between the flu and other illnesses. for example, with the flu, you are unlikely to experience sneezing, which is more characteristic of a cold. the flu typically doesn’t cause shortness of breath, unless in severe cases, which can rule out certain conditions where it is one of the telltale signs, such as covid-19, pneumonia and rsv.
it’s about paying attention to your body, the symptoms you’re experiencing and how unwell you feel.
timelines may also play a role in both symptom onset and duration. in the case of the flu, you will start feeling unwell abruptly, and can expect to be sick for three to seven days. in some instances, coughing and fatigue may persist for up to two weeks or more. the common cold, on the other hand, will feel as though it comes on gradually, but can last for seven to 10 days.
other illnesses and their timelines include:
- covid-10: symptoms can develop either quickly or gradually over time, and will last anywhere from five to 10 days.
- pneumonia: the onset of pneumonia symptoms largely depends on the cause. viral pneumonia develops more slowly than other forms, and symptoms typically begin to appear over the course of several days. some other cases may develop suddenly within 24 to 48 hours. mild cases of pneumonia typically last up to three weeks, but severe cases can persist for several months.
- rsv: rsv typically causes a gradual increase in symptoms, with a person remaining ill for between seven and 10 days, or up to six weeks.
- mono: mono symptoms tend to fluctuate during the course of two to six weeks, gradually lessening over time. long-term symptoms, such as fatigue and low energy, can persist for over six months.
- strep throat: a sudden sore throat is a common indication of strep throat, typically accompanied by other symptoms that last three to five days.
- sinusitis: the timeline of sinusitis can vary depending on its severity. acute cases typically begin rapidly and last for up to four weeks, whereas subacute cases can persist for up to eight weeks. if it becomes chronic, symptoms will persist beyond the eight-week mark.
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seeing a healthcare provider for the flu
since the flu is a relatively short-lived infection for most, there’s often no need to see a healthcare provider if you’re only experiencing flu symptoms and nothing else, while you care for yourself at home with lots of fluids and rest.
however, if any other symptoms found in other respiratory infections are present, and you’re not sure if you have the flu, it’s important to see a healthcare provider because they can provide you with treatment that may be required for other infections, such as mono or bacterial pneumonia.
you should also see a healthcare provider if you belong to a high-risk group or have symptoms that feel off or as if it’s more than the flu, because not only does the flu come with the risk of complications, but so do other conditions that can mimic the flu.
dealing with illness this flu season isn’t fun, but if you do happen to get sick, knowing how to distinguish between the flu and other potential infections is the best way to receive proper care, whether at home or through a healthcare professional, allowing you to have a speedy recovery.
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