With the growing concerns about the novel coronavirus now spreading rapidly in the U.S., it’s understandable that people who develop a cough or fever might wonder if they have COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
There are going to be many individuals who think they have the disease, even if they’re unlikely to have been exposed and their symptoms are more consistent with other health problems, like the cold or flu, said Gary LeRoy, M.D., a family physician in Dayton, Ohio, and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Contributing to the confusion is that this is a rapidly evolving situation, where what is known about the disease changes by the day, even by the hour, LeRoy and other experts say.
“Minor respiratory symptoms that otherwise people would dismiss are causing a lot of anxiety,” said Michael Hochman, M.D., director of the Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles.
In addition, testing for the virus is still not widely available, making it difficult for people to know for certain when they are infected.
But at this point, some facts are clear: COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness, with common symptoms of fever, dry cough, and, sometimes, shortness of breath. These range from mild to severe, and the most serious cases are potentially fatal, particularly in people who are older or have underlying medical conditions.
And like other viral respiratory illnesses, it’s thought that this new disease spreads primarily through close contact with an infected person, through the droplets produced during coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This is definitely a situation we should be taking seriously,” Hochman said. “We shouldn’t dismiss it, but panicking isn’t helpful.” Carefully evaluating your symptoms, risk factors, and known exposure can help you decide when you can treat at home, when you should be tested, and whether you should reach out to a doctor.
Cold, Flu, or COVID-19?
Currently, three respiratory diseases caused by viral infection are circulating in the U.S., according to LeRoy: the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19.
It can be hard to distinguish among them because some symptoms overlap, and others can vary substantially from person to person. Still, each of these infections tends to have certain defining characteristics that may give you some helpful clues.
Colds. These viral infections typically come on gradually, according to LeRoy, with runny nose, congestion, sore throat, and cough usually at their worst three or four days after onset. Colds can sometimes also cause headaches, body aches, and fever, but they’re generally milder than those associated with the flu.
Flu. This infection is notable for coming on fast and causing high fever, severe body aches, and extreme fatigue. Often, “it has a very sudden, abrupt onset,” LeRoy said. “It’s like a train hit you.” Occasionally, the flu can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more common in children.
COVID-19. Fever, dry cough, and less often, shortness of breath, are the major tipoffs. According to a World Health Organization analysis of 55,924 patients, people infected with the new virus developed a fever in 88% of cases, a dry cough in 68%, and shortness of breath in 19%. The cough may be persistent, without easing at all throughout the day, LeRoy said. People sometimes report being unable to catch their breath or to breathe or talk easily, or may feel out of breath after minor exertion, like walking around the house.
When to seek testing and treatment
Most cases of COVID-19 are relatively mild and can be treated at home. And as with the flu and the common cold, there is no cure. While certain antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir – known as Tamiflu, can sometimes limit the duration and severity of the flu, those drugs have not been shown to help with COVID-19, though at least one antiviral, remdesivir, is being tested.
Instead, as with the cold and flu, treatment typically focuses on easing symptoms by resting, drink