At first, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat.
Days 1–3: Sudden appearance of fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, dry cough, sore throat and sometimes a stuffy nose. Day 4: Fever and muscle aches decrease. Hoarse, dry or sore throat, cough and possible mild chest discomfort become more noticeable.
The typical incubation period for a cold is 2–3 days. A sore throat or runny nose are common early signs. Other symptoms, such as coughing and sneezing, may also develop.
Colds: Often Start With a Sore Throat
This early symptom tends to last for 1 to 2 days. A runny and stuffy nose is also common. Sore throats come with the flu, too. But if you have it, you'll probably be tired and have other symptoms that come on all at once.
Stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat: One or more of these are sometimes present with the flu, but they're all rare for the coronavirus. Cough: Common to both flu and coronavirus. Shortness of breath: A serious symptom which occurs in severe cases of coronavirus, but rarely with the flu.
You should get a COVID-19 test if: You have new symptoms such as fatigue, headache, body/muscle aches, cough, fever, sore throat, and/or congestion. You have symptoms and are at high risk for severe illness because of other medical conditions, age, or have a compromised immune system.
Because COVID-19 is an illness caused by a virus, a COVID-19 sore throat may look and feel like other viral sore throats. One clue that you have viral pharyngitis is that it is often accompanied by other common symptoms.
Flu signs and symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: Fever*/feeling feverish or chills. Cough.
The raw, scratchy, burning feeling at the back of your throat is often the first warning sign that you have a cold, or that the flu is on the way.
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: fever* or feeling feverish/chills. cough.
The Start of a Cold
It usually begins with a sore throat, and before you know it, you've also got these symptoms: Runny nose (clear and watery) Sneezing.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, such as the cold or flu virus. Some of the more serious causes of sore throat include tonsillitis, strep throat, and mononucleosis (mono). Other causes include smoking, mouth breathing at night while you sleep, pollution, and allergies to pets, pollens and molds.
Sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat, the common cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory tract illness. Sore throat caused by a virus or the bacteria called group A Streptococcus can have similar symptoms. Sometimes the following symptoms suggest a virus is causing the illness instead of Strep throat: Cough.
Symptoms typically begin about two days (but can range from one to four days) after flu viruses infect a person's respiratory tract. It is theoretically possible that before symptoms begin, an infected person can spread flu viruses to their close contacts.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or bacteria, which often come with other signs of infection, such as a fever. Even so, there are other causes of a sore throat that may not present with a fever, including allergies, acid reflux, colds, STIs, environmental pollutants, or even cancer.
Flu symptoms generally peak two to four days after they begin, then begin to gradually improve on their own. You are also most contagious three to four days after symptoms start. Symptoms may include: Fever or chills.
Both the flu and COVID-19 cause a cough and shortness of breath, but overall, COVID-19 symptoms tend to last longer than the flu. Medical experts say COVID-19 symptoms may last for several weeks if not months. Shortness of breath can also come later with COVID-19 and becomes more severe and long-lasting than the flu.
Some people describe COVID sore throat as the most painful sore throat they've ever experienced. Others report a sore throat that isn't too different from one caused by a regular cold. Other COVID sore throat symptoms people notice include: Pain when swallowing or talking.
Any time your throat hurts due to infection, stay away from people. You may spread the illness. However, you may have a sore throat for another reason. In these cases, you're safe around other people, as your sore throat is not contagious.
The short, simple answer is DO NOT go to work if you have a sore throat, especially if you aren't sure why. A sore throat could mean the presence of an underlying infection.
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better within a week. Most are caused by minor illnesses such as cold or flu and can be treated at home.
Strep throat, epiglottitis, and esophagitis are some possible causes of pain when swallowing. Throat infections are one of the most common causes of pain when swallowing. These include strep throat, which is an infection with Streptococcal bacteria.
While they can occur at any time of the year and for a variety of reasons, sore throats tend to be most common during cold and flu season. The pain can range from mild to moderate to severe, and the duration of time the pain lasts can vary from a day or two to a week or more.