Published on Nov 27, 2023 | 1:23 PM
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In the United States, the colder months are often looked upon fondly, thanks to the holiday season, potential snow days, and the beautiful displays of community shown across the country. However, for those in the medical field, the holiday season and the months thereafter make up some of the busiest days of the year, thanks to the many diseases and infections that run rampant in the colder months.
With many of the seasonal conditions such as diseases like the common cold, influenza, and Covid sharing many of their symptoms, the doctors at CallonDoc get many patients who are unsure what they have. Here, we will go over a bit of information about all three and how to differentiate between them so you can get more out of any doctor’s visit!
When looking at the symptoms alone, it's no small wonder why people get Covid-19, colds, and the flu confused. Each shares similar symptoms, with some cases mirroring each other, but having different causes. With references to CallonDoc’s Guides to the flu and Covid, here are the most common symptoms of each:
Common Cold:
Flu (Influenza):
COVID-19:
Distinguishing between a cold and the flu can be challenging due to their shared symptoms. Generally, cold symptoms develop gradually, with a rare occurrence of fever in adults. Coughing is usually mild, sore throat is common, and nasal symptoms are prevalent. The duration of a cold is typically around one week.
While the flu can come with respiratory issues and dampen a person’s senses, it's generally not to the degree of Covid. Both diseases can also be tested through a nasal or mouth swab.
Colds are more common during the fall and winter months. The peak time for colds often occurs from September to April in the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest incidence during the late fall and early winter. In the Southern Hemisphere, where seasons are reversed, the peak for colds typically occurs during the late fall and early winter months as well.
Historically speaking, the most severe spikes for the flu occur in December and February. While the disease remains present year-round, it most often starts spreading aggressively in December and is heavily reduced at the end of March.
While our understanding of Covid-19 and its variants is relatively new compared to other conditions, we now understand that the disease displays seasonal trends, like the flu. More specifically, in the three years the virus has been present since the start of the pandemic, Covid-19 has shared the time of year it spreads most aggressively with the flu, with both spreading most aggressively between November and April.
Treating online before the endemic where telemedicine erupted in popularity, Call-On-Doc has over 260,000+ 5-star reviews and offers quick, same-day treatment for all urgent care needs, including colds, flu, and covid seven days a week. Not only do we offer Paxlovid for those with Covid and multiple options for the common cold and the flu, but we also offer a doctor’s note for those who can’t go to work or need to isolate themselves!
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides.
The Call-On-Doc Guide to the Flu
Every year, millions of Americans get sick, go to the doctor, and suffer hospitalizations all because of influenza. The virus, most commonly referred to as the flu, comes in multiple variations and has been the source of many global epidemics. One exceedingly deadly pandemic caused by influenza came in the form of the Spanish flu. Ravaging the public in 1918 and 1919, the virus would go on to take the lives of 21 million Americans. Put into perspective, that’s more than WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. (1) Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, flu CDC statistics show significantly reduced deaths in spite of how influenza spreads.
In recent years of high influenza spread, the flu CDC statistics for flu deaths by year resulted in:
|
Year |
2016-2017 |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cases |
29 million |
41 million |
29 million |
36 million |
|
Deaths |
38,000 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
25,000 |
In the case of 2020 to 2021, the CDC admits that flu cases were so low that they would not be recorded. (2) While the numbers vary wildly year by year, the evidence shows that influenza mortality rates have improved in the United States despite how aggressively the flu spreads. Initiatives that may have helped reduce the rates include educating people about the flu virus, best practices, and prevention methods.
Sep 26, 2023 | 4:05 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as SARS-Cov-2 or simply Covid-19, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that caused an international pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Having pushed the United States government to assist in the development of vaccines and treatment in the first year of the pandemic, the virus has the capacity to be severe in at-risk individuals but tends to cause only mild symptoms in healthy adults and few to none in children. Like other viruses affecting the respiratory system, Covid-19 spreads through droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze.
Oct 24, 2023 | 5:21 PM
How to Stay Healthy When Your Kids Get Sick
Now that we're in the depths of cold and flu season it's important to remind your little ones to cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze as well as frequently wash their hands as kids get sick more often than adults with children ages 1 to 3 getting sick six to nine times per year and kids ages 4 to 10 getting sick four to six times per year. (1) Adults understand the basic ways to prevent getting sick, even when exposed to others during covid, flu, and other illness peaks, but children need to be frequently told not to touch their face and put their fingers in their mouths and noses. While preventative measures are important your little one most likely will still get sick a few times each cold and flu season which in turn exposes you and your family directly. Being able to get pediatric care quickly can help stop sickness and start recovery even sooner. Here are a few things to note that can help you throughout the year when it comes to taking care of your family
Oct 31, 2023 | 2:13 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to the Flu
Every year, millions of Americans get sick, go to the doctor, and suffer hospitalizations all because of influenza. The virus, most commonly referred to as the flu, comes in multiple variations and has been the source of many global epidemics. One exceedingly deadly pandemic caused by influenza came in the form of the Spanish flu. Ravaging the public in 1918 and 1919, the virus would go on to take the lives of 21 million Americans. Put into perspective, that’s more than WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. (1) Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, flu CDC statistics show significantly reduced deaths in spite of how influenza spreads.
In recent years of high influenza spread, the flu CDC statistics for flu deaths by year resulted in:
|
Year |
2016-2017 |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cases |
29 million |
41 million |
29 million |
36 million |
|
Deaths |
38,000 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
25,000 |
In the case of 2020 to 2021, the CDC admits that flu cases were so low that they would not be recorded. (2) While the numbers vary wildly year by year, the evidence shows that influenza mortality rates have improved in the United States despite how aggressively the flu spreads. Initiatives that may have helped reduce the rates include educating people about the flu virus, best practices, and prevention methods.
Sep 26, 2023 | 4:05 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as SARS-Cov-2 or simply Covid-19, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that caused an international pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Having pushed the United States government to assist in the development of vaccines and treatment in the first year of the pandemic, the virus has the capacity to be severe in at-risk individuals but tends to cause only mild symptoms in healthy adults and few to none in children. Like other viruses affecting the respiratory system, Covid-19 spreads through droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze.
Oct 24, 2023 | 5:21 PM
How to Stay Healthy When Your Kids Get Sick
Now that we're in the depths of cold and flu season it's important to remind your little ones to cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze as well as frequently wash their hands as kids get sick more often than adults with children ages 1 to 3 getting sick six to nine times per year and kids ages 4 to 10 getting sick four to six times per year. (1) Adults understand the basic ways to prevent getting sick, even when exposed to others during covid, flu, and other illness peaks, but children need to be frequently told not to touch their face and put their fingers in their mouths and noses. While preventative measures are important your little one most likely will still get sick a few times each cold and flu season which in turn exposes you and your family directly. Being able to get pediatric care quickly can help stop sickness and start recovery even sooner. Here are a few things to note that can help you throughout the year when it comes to taking care of your family
Oct 31, 2023 | 2:13 PM
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