Sudden changes in weather conditions actually make people feel under the weather. Therefore, how to distinguish between the common cold and COVID-19 while the symptoms and manifestations are quite similar such as cough, fever, and sore throat?

According to Doctor Nguyen Thanh Trung from the Da Nang-based Pasteur Clinic, common cold and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract) caused by a variety of bacteria and viruses such as influenza, whilst COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by infection with the virus SARS-CoV-2. However, these viruses spread in similar ways and cause many of the same signs and symptoms of runny or stuffy nose, cough, and sore throat.

However, there are a few differences. Specifically, SARS-CoV2 can cause more severe illness, in which the most common is pneumonia (shortness of breath, hypoxemia, cough, fever...), or affect the heart (racing heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc). In addition, SARS-CoV2 also has complications of hemostasis disorders, neurological complications, etc.

Patients with suspected Covid-19 symptoms should take reasonable self-care measures, including eating nutritious meals, drinking enough clean water, keeping rooms clean, etc. in a bid to improve their health. Also, they should limit their contacts with others, especially the elderly, pregnant women, or those with underlying diseases.

Because of the similarities, it can be hard to diagnose which condition you have based on symptoms alone. Testing may be done to see if you have COVID-19 or the common cold.

Reporting by THANH TINH – Translating by M.DUNG