Overview
Both COVID-19 and the common cold can cause cough, sore throat, and fatigue. However, COVID-19 is caused by a different virus, can lead to severe illness, and may include symptoms like loss of taste or smell. Testing is often needed to tell them apart.
Disease Summaries
COVID-19: COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Common Cold: Common cold is an infection of the nose and throat. Symptoms include coughing, runny nose, and throat pain. Most colds are caused by viruses; a few are caused by bacteria.
Comparing Symptoms
Overlapping Symptoms
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Runny nose
COVID-19 Specific Symptoms
- Loss of taste/smell
- Shortness of breath
- Body aches
- Fever
- Diarrhea
Common Cold Specific Symptoms
- Gradual onset
- Mild symptoms
- Sneezing
- Post-nasal drip
- Symptoms mainly above the neck
Treatment Approaches
COVID-19 Treatment Approaches
Early antiviral treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms and lower the risk of complications like hospitalization and death. It is especially recommended for people most at risk for severe disease like the very young, elderly or people with pre-existing conditions. Several antiviral medications can inhibit viral replication, especially when administered in the early stages of infection. This can help shorten the duration of symptoms and prevent progression to severe disease. Treatment may include oxygen therapy, antiviral medications, and supportive care.
Common Cold Treatment Approaches
The common cold usually resolves on its own and does not require specific treatment. Healthcare professionals can suggest ways to alleviate symptoms.
Reviewed By:

Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.

Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Mar 27, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
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https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(03)12162-9/fulltextPassioti M, Maggina P, Megremis S, Papadopoulos NG. The common cold: potential for future prevention or cure. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Feb;14(2):413. doi: 10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5. PMID: 24415465; PMCID: PMC7088639.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5He, F., Deng, Y., & Li, W. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019: What we know? Journal of Medical Virology.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmv.25766