FLU, COVID or Cold? – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Updated December 2024

As the weather cools down and more people stay inside, COVID, flu, and the common cold will spread more easily. If you haven’t been vaccinated for flu or COVID, now is the time. Vaccination is the most effective way to fight COVID or the flu. You can call Valor Health Family Medicine from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (208) 365-6004 to make an appointment.

When should I see a doctor if I feel sick?

If you are sick with these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and get tested.

  • Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue (tiredness)
  • Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
  • Loss of smell or taste

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Is it COVID or Flu?

COVID-19, the flu, the common cold, and seasonal allergies have similar symptoms. If you have symptoms like those listed below, you should be tested and get a treatment plan from your healthcare provider. Delaying the diagnosis and treatment can cause serious complications.

COVID, cold and flu symptom chart.

Will my healthcare provider test me for flu if I have flu symptoms?

Since flu symptoms are similar to some COVID-19 symptoms, many people will take a COVID test first.

Your health care provider may diagnose you with flu based on your symptoms and their clinical judgment, or they may choose to use an influenza diagnostic test. Flu testing can also be helpful for some people with suspected flu who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and for whom a diagnosis of flu can help their doctor make decisions about their care.

Flu Treatment

Antiviral drugs may be a treatment option if you get sick with the flu.

Check with your doctor promptly if you are at high risk of serious flu complications and have flu symptomsPeople at high risk of flu complications include young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.

When used for treatment, antiviral drugs can lessen symptoms and shorten your sick time by 1 or 2 days. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia. For people at high risk of serious flu complications, treatment with antiviral drugs can mean the difference between milder or more serious illness possibly resulting in a hospital stay. CDC recommends prompt treatment for people who have influenza or suspected influenza infection and are at high risk of serious flu complications.

COVID Treatment

If you test positive and are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, treatments are available. Medications to treat COVID-19 must be prescribed by a healthcare provider. However, many treatments are still under development. If you have COVID, contact your healthcare provider right away to determine the best options for you, even if your symptoms are mild right now. Learn More.

RSV Treatment

Treatment for RSV typically focuses on relieving symptoms, as there is no specific antiviral treatment for the virus in most cases.


What should I do if I get sick?

flu symptoms 2022 - Teddy bear getting sick.

If you get sick with the flu, a cold, or COVID, you should stay home, wear a mask around others, and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. When it comes to the flu, most people with it have mild illnesses and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.

Certain people are at high risk of serious complications (including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions). This is true both for seasonal flu and COVID-19. If you are in a high-risk group and develop symptoms, you should contact your doctor early in your illness. CDC recommends that people at high risk for complications get antiviral treatment as early as possible because the benefit is greatest if treatment starts within 2 days after illness onset.

What are the emergency warning signs?

People experiencing these warning signs should obtain medical care right away.

Symptoms in children:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Ribs pulling in with each breath
  • Chest pain
  • Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
  • Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
  • Not alert or interacting when awake
  • Seizures
  • Fever above 104°F
  • In children less than 12 weeks, any fever is a concern
  • Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens
  • Worsening of chronic medical conditions


Symptoms In Adults:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
  • Seizures
  • Not urinating
  • Severe muscle pain
  • Severe weakness or unsteadiness
  • Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens
  • Worsening of chronic medical conditions

These lists are not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other severe or concerning symptom.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/signs-symptoms/

https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/

How Much Does a Flu, RSV, or COVID Vaccine Cost?

Most insurance companies cover the COVID vaccination and the flu vaccination. Valor Health offers no insurance/discounted flu shots. Financial assistance is also available for our patients who qualify.