In autumn and winter, colds are in full swing, and flu is more prevalent. This is a colourful mix of pathogens to be exposed to, in addition to COVID-19. The slightest scratch in the throat makes many people wonder: have I caught a serious disease or is it just a cold? Here is a comparison of common symptoms to help you diagnose yourself.
|
Symptom |
Cold |
Flu |
COVID-19 |
|
Onset of illness |
Symptoms appear gradually and increase. |
Symptoms appear suddenly. |
Symptoms appear gradually and increase. |
|
Fever |
Rare. |
Sudden fever with high temperatures. |
Often. |
|
Runny nose and/or nasal congestion |
Often. |
Rare. |
Often. |
|
Cough |
Rare. |
Rare. |
Often dry cough. |
|
Sore throat |
Often. |
Rare. |
Rare. |
|
Sneezing |
Often. |
No |
Rare. |
|
Shortness of breath |
No |
No |
Rare. |
|
Headache |
Rare. |
Often. |
Rare. |
|
Aching body |
Rare. |
Often. |
Rare. |
|
Exhaustion |
Rare. |
Often. |
Stark. |
|
Diarrhea |
No |
Rare. |
Rare. |
|
Skin rash |
No |
No |
Rare. |
|
Severe loss of taste and smell |
No |
No |
Often. |
|
Common disease duration |
5 to 7 days. |
5 to 7 days. |
10 to 14 days. |
|
Post illness immunity |
No. |
No |
Probably not. |
Frequently asked questions
What should be done in case of a suspected COVID-19 infection?
Those who have had personal contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 should contact their public health department immediately, regardless of symptoms. And most importantly, stay at home.
How long does it take for the disease to break out after infection?
There is a risk of infection one to two days before the first symptoms appear, but the risk is highest one day before. How long the risk of infection lasts depends on how the illness progresses. The average infectious period is 9 to 10 days, in individual cases up to 20 days.
Who is particularly at risk?
As the body's own defence system weakens with age, the older a person is, the more likely he or she is to have a severe form of the disease. The risk really starts to increase from about 50 years of age upwards. High-risk groups such as smokers, people who are very overweight and people whose immune system is already weakened by a previous illness are also more likely to have a severe course. (Source: Gesund.bund.de)
