Sore throat, runny nose, fever, cough… Winter is the season of colds and other dangerous viruses. Be careful because confusion between a simple cold and a Covid (BA5 infection) is very common as the symptoms are so similar. How do we know what we have?
Stuffy, runny nose, sore throat, mild fever, cough… Nasopharyngitis, more commonly known as “cold”, is very common between early autumn and early spring. But in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, symptoms suggestive of a cold can be troubling and suggest a Covid infection. How to distinguish the two infections? What are their points in common? How do you know what you are “incubating”? When to consult? Table of differences between symptoms and responses by Pr Charles Cazanave, infectious disease specialist and head of a unit in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases department of the University Hospital of Bordeaux.
What are the common symptoms between the common cold and Covid?
The coronavirus that causes nasopharyngitis does not have the same aggressiveness as the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19.
A hundred viruses can lead to a cold. These viruses are classified into two categories: rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. These are benign, unlike Sars-Cov-2, the cause of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The first symptoms of a Covid-19 infection can be very similar to those with colds. The common cold and Covid-19 usually start with the same symptoms: we feel feverish, tired, have a runny nose (what in medical terms is called rhinorrhea or runny nose), on a sore throat (pharyngeal pain), we sneeze and we can coughdescribes Professor Charles Cazanave. These are the symptoms of the otorhinolaryngological sphere which are the most frequent in both cases because SARS-CoV-2 or the virus responsible for nasopharyngitis are two viruses that pass through the nose and descend towards the bronchi..”
Cold and Covid symptom chart
| Symptoms | Cold | COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Not very high (38°C maximum) | High (39-40°C) |
| Fatigue | Moderate | Important |
| Rhinorrhea | Important and accompanied by a stuffy nose | Possible but without nasal obstruction |
| Stuffy nose | Important | Weak |
| Sore throat |
Possible (may be indicative of angina) Warning, an isolated sore throat is not indicative of a cold or a Covid-19 infection. On the other hand, it can make one think of angina or pharyngitis. |
Possible Warning, an isolated sore throat is not indicative of a cold or a Covid-19 infection. On the other hand, it can make one think of angina or pharyngitis. |
| Cough | Moderate | Important |
| Pains | Non-existent or weak | Significant (may be indicative of influence) |
| Loss of smell (anosmia) | None (or only due to nasal obstruction) | Possible and typical in the absence of nasal obstruction |
| Loss of taste (ageusia) | None (or only due to nasal obstruction) | Possible and typical |
| Dermatological problems | Inexistent | Possible (rash, purpura…) |
| Digestive signs (diarrhea) | None or rare (especially children) | Possible (classically described in young children and the elderly) |
What are the differences between the common cold and Covid?
► Different virus : Infectious agents are not the same. “The best known cold virus is the rhinovirusalthough some coronaviruses (Coronaviruses are a family of several viruses) it can even lead to a cold. Warning, these coronaviruses are benign and have nothing to do with SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the Covid-19 epidemic“, describes the specialist. The coronavirus that causes nasopharyngitis it doesn’t have the same aggressiveness that the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19.“Everyone recovers easily from a cold, while sadly not everyone recovers from a Covid-19“, our interlocutor points out.
► Different symptoms : Some symptoms differ between Covid-19 and the common cold, and some are associated with only one of the two diseases: “A person who has a cold has a runny nose and stuffy nose. This can then lead to a slight loss of smell and taste but this is simply due to nasal obstruction, whereas someone with Covid-19 does not have a stuffy nose but may have a sudden loss of smell and/or of taste“, explains the infectious disease specialist. Finally, skin problems (rash, purpura) e digestive signs (diarrhea) may be suggestive of Covid-19 while they are almost non-existent during a cold.
► Different incubation period: the incubation of nasopharyngitis is shorter than that of Covid-19: 2-3 days for nasopharyngitis vs 5-8 days for Covid-19.
► Patients of different ages: nasopharyngitis affects young people, especially children between 6 months and 7 years, which is not the case with Covid-19. Infected people have on average 71 years oldnoticed Public health France.
► Different mortality: according to Santé Publique France, Covid-19 mortality rate (number of deaths reported to the general population) can be estimated at 0.002%. On the other hand, one does not die of isolated nasopharyngitis, it remains a mild infection. The immune system usually fights off the virus within a week. However, but this remains rare, in people at risk (people who have had a bone marrow transplant, for example), rhinoviruses can cause respiratory complications that can lead to bacterial and potentially fatal pneumonia.
Does the loss of taste and smell rather evoke the cold or Covid?
Loss of taste and smell is possible in both cases, but for the common cold it is simply due to nasal obstruction. While it is a very evocative symptom of Covid. In short, if you have a stuffy nose and loss of smell, it’s probably a cold. If, on the other hand, you lose your sense of smell and you don’t have a stuffy nose, it’s definitely a Covid. In all cases, only a test can make the diagnosis.
“The only way to rule out Covid-19 is to get tested.” remember our interlocutor. Depending on the symptoms and their intensity, you can distinguish between a cold and Covid-19. A medical opinion it is necessary in order not to lose an unusual shape, especially when the symptoms persist and/or worsen.
When to take a test?
If in doubt, it is recommended seek the advice of your doctor, initially by telephone or teleconsultation if offered. “The only way to rule out Covid-19 is to get tested“, indicates our interlocutor. From now on, the tests are paying off. Continue to benefit from the support, people:
- have a comprehensive vaccination schedule (or a contraindication to vaccination);
- minors;
- identified by the “contact-tracing” carried out by the Health Insurance;
- affected by collective screening campaigns (ARS, schools, etc.);
- symptomatic on medical prescription;
- with certificate of reintegration aged less than six months.
Thanks to Professor Charles Cazanave, infectious disease doctor and head of a unit in the department of infectious and tropical diseases at Bordeaux University Hospital.
