If you or your child is sick, you may wonder if it’s allergies, a cold, the flu or COVID-19. In addition, with COVID-19, symptoms can range from no symptoms to severe symptoms and it can be challenging to know what to do. The chart below outlines
how symptoms differ and what you might see with each condition, as well as recommendations for what to do in each situation.
This chart should not replace medical diagnosis. For children or adults who are not seriously ill, it is recommended
to contact your medical provider first to determine if you should seek medical care, what to do if symptoms are not improving or to provide a medical excuse for school or work.
Symptom Navigator
| Symptoms | Allergies | Cold | Flu | COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms begin | Gradually | Gradually | Suddenly: 1 to 4 days after exposure | 2 to 14 days after exposure; typically after 5 days. |
| Symptoms last | Throughout allergy season | 4 to 10 days | 5 to 7 days | Varies by person |
| Symptoms get worse with time | x | x | ||
| Body or muscle aches | Rare | x | x | |
| Chills | Rare | x | x | |
| Cough | x | Sometimes | x | x |
| Tiredness/weakness | Sometimes | Sometimes | x | x |
| Earache (in children) | Sometimes | Sometimes | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Fever | Rare | x | x | |
| Headache | x | Rare | x | x |
| Itchy or watery eyes | x | |||
| Loss of taste or smell | x | |||
| Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea | Sometimes | x | ||
| Runny nose | x | x | Sometimes | x |
| Stuffy nose | x | x | Sometimes | x |
| Sneezing | x | x | Sometimes | x |
| Sore throat | x | x | Sometimes | x |
| Shortness or breath or difficulty breathing | Rare | Rare | Rare | x |
| If you have these symptoms | ||||
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Many children with COVID-19 experience no symptoms. If your child has had close contact with someone with COVID-19, it’s important to stay home and distance from others in order to help protect those who are at high risk for severe
illness from the virus (i.e. grandparents). | |
x = symptom is typical for this illness.
How to get tested for COVID-19
If you or your child has COVID-19 symptoms or has had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, go to MyPrevea.com to start the screening process.
When to seek emergency medical attention
For children or adults who are seriously ill with any of the following signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
- Trouble or fast breathing
- Bluish lips or face
- Chest pain
- Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
- Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
- New confusion
- Not alert or interacting when awake
- Seizures
- Fever above 104°F; or any fever in children less than 12 weeks old
This list is not all possible symptoms. Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility to let the operator know if you are seeking care for someone who
has or may have COVID-19.
For more resources about COVID-19 and other illnesses, visit cdc.gov.