It's that time of year again - when people spend much of their time coughing, sneezing and displaying symptoms of the common cold. Pre-pandemic, this was never much of an issue - but now, someone coughing leads to raised eyebrows and looks of concern. Is it a cold or, worse, Covid?
During the peak of the pandemic, common respiratory illnesses were at an all-time low largely due to social distancing precautions, but now, despite the reintroduction of wearing face masks and remaining vigilant with the surge of the omicron variant, the pathogens are back with a vengeance.
Throughout September and October 2021, many people said that they had experienced 'the worst cold ever'. Sufferers reported symptoms ranging from sandpaper throats, to muscle aches, with some even saying that their cold has left them bedridden. Rebecca London, 24, from Bournemouth told the BBC she caught a cold at a festival and it was 'the worst ever', adding "I barely slept, I'd wake up in the night just coughing, a constantly runny nose and feeling so tired."
The spread of the cold was prompted not only by the removal of restrictions but is also due to the fact people's immune systems were not as robust as they used to be, having gone a year without the usual exposure to common bacteria and virus stimuli. This made cold symptoms increasingly prevalent. Now the weather is colder, experts warn that people in the UK can expect more regular infections, and more serious symptoms.
NHS guidance says that a temperature, cough or loss of smell or taste are the main signs of Covid. But, with the emergence of the omicron variant, fatigue and high pulse are among "unusual" symptoms spotted by Dr Angelique Coetzee, who had also patients with muscle aches, "scratchy throat" and dry cough.
This means that, particularly for those with milder symptoms, it can be tricky to work out the difference between coronavirus and a more ordinary illness, including allergies.
So, here's everything you need to know about Covid-19 vs cold symptoms.
What are the main symptoms of Covid?
According to the Zoe symptom tracker app, developed by researchers at King’s College London, the most common symptom of Covid is a headache. It is incredibly widespread: two-thirds of the under 40s currently suffering from the virus have a headache as well as over half of those over 40.
The next most common symptoms are a sore throat and runny nose – classic features of a common cold. Half of those under 40 report a sore throat or runny nose and about a third of the over 40s feel the same.
For the over 40s with the virus, none of the “classic” symptoms named by the NHS makes it into the top five most common signs of the virus. Four in 10 people under 40 report either a fever or persistent cough.
Experts have warned that omicron is triggering a “rather different” set of symptoms compared to previous variants. These include fatigue, body aches (including lower back pain), sore or "scratchy" throat and even sneezing.
Why are people suffering from the 'worst cold ever?'
London-based GP Dr Phillipa Kaye explains that we are now socialising again but that for almost two years (under lockdown and previous social distancing measures), we didn't get the chance to build up immunity to cough, cold and flu viruses. This means that when the infection strikes, the symptoms are often more severe.
Although the symptoms are unpleasant, they can be treated at home with rest, fluids and over-the-counter painkillers.
How do I know if I have Covid or an allergy?
Having a high temperature (over 38C or 100.4F) is a common sign of a cold or Covid. However, coronavirus can cause loss or change of smell or taste without a blocked nose.
Other allergies can cause a scratchy feeling in your throat. Sore throats are also common in Covid or colds but are more likely to feel painful rather than itchy.
How do I know if my headache is a cold or Covid?
According to Zoe, a Covid headache has particular features that mark it out. They are typically moderate to severe: lasting for three to five days on average and don’t feel better after using painkillers. They are also generally felt on both sides of the head and could feel like they are “pulsing”, “stabbing”, or “pressing”.
Headaches tend to be one of the first signs of Covid but can linger for a while in people with long Covid. Around 15 per cent of people with Covid have a headache as their only symptom.
How do I know if my runny nose is Covid or a cold?
A runny nose can be caused by the common cold or by Covid-19. Getting a runny nose caused by Covid is much more likely when rates of the virus are high in the population at large. When rates are lower, it’s more likely to be caused by other conditions, like an allergy or a cold.
Could my cold be RSV?
It might be, although it's hard to tell the difference between symptoms. RSV is one of the most common causes of childhood illness, but it can also affect adults. Like the common cold, cases of RSV largely vanished during the lockdowns, but rose steadily afterwards. In adults and healthy children over the age of one, symptoms tend to be mild, and infections usually clear up within a week.
Most babies and young children who catch RSV can be treated at home, in the same way that parents would treat a common cold. The infection usually goes away within two weeks.
More severe cases require a trip to the hospital, where your child might be offered oxygen, IV fluids and medications to open their airways.
What should I do if I don’t know if it’s a cold or Covid?
Unfortunately, despite the “classic” symptoms no longer being the most common, the government is only giving free PCR tests to people with a fever, loss or change in smell or taste or a new, continuous cough.
Experts say that given the changing nature of the illness, people should get a test even if their symptoms are milder or seem more like a cold. “Do stay at home and get a test,” Prof Tim Spector, lead scientist on the Zoe app, said, recommending people who think they may have a cold get a lateral flow test.
“If it’s positive, get a PCR test to make sure, but treat it as if you've got Covid,” he said.
How can I tell the difference between earlier strains of Covid and the omicron variant?
The omicron variant has double the mutations of the delta variant and there are now cases of it worldwide.
Key symptoms include fatigue and a high pulse rate but do not include those associated with the earlier strains, such as a fever or loss of taste or smell.
The omicron variant differs to earlier strains and is more easily distinguished against the common cold. Those who contract the common delta variant of Covid tend to display symptoms of coughing, a runny nose, a sore throat and headaches - which are associated with the common cold.
What is the government's plan for Covid?
Despite the reintroduction of face masks and working from home, as well as the implementation of vaccine passports, the government has been reluctant to announce further measures, which could still be on the horizon should cases continue to rise.
Dr Susan Hopkins, the strategic response director for Covid-19 at Public Health England, warned that hospitals could become overwhelmed.
Experts from Sage also predicted a "pretty miserable" "fourth wave" with infections from other respiratory viruses including bronchiolitis and pneumonia expected to increase among children and the elderly.
This article is regularly updated with the latest advice.
