DOCTOR’S WARNING OVER ONE SYMPTOM ‘UNIQUE’ TO COVID AS CASES ON THE RISE

A physician has issued an alert regarding a particular symptom that she describes as "unique" to Covid. Should you encounter this symptom, it's therefore more probable you're dealing with Covid rather than another ailment. During this season, it's fairly typical to fall ill with some type of sickness. The chillier weather combined with spending increased time indoors alongside others creates easier conditions for viruses to circulate.

Nevertheless, it can be challenging to determine precisely what's afflicting you since some of the signs of colds, flu, and COVID-19 can appear comparable.

Keeping this in consideration, Doctor Rupa Parmar - GP and medical director at Midland Health - offered her guidance for distinguishing these conditions.

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She stated: "There are some key differences between a common cold, Covid and flu that can easily help you differentiate them. But, if you're still unsure, always consult your doctor. After all, it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to health", reports the Express.

Within the signs she addressed is one that she described as "somewhat unique to Covid" Dr Parmar stated: "A loss of taste or smell is a symptom somewhat unique to Covid.

"If you are experiencing either a change in taste or a complete loss, it is most likely that you have the coronavirus."

Nevertheless, the NHS observes that a change or loss of smell can be triggered by "illnesses such as a cold, flu or COVID-19". However, the NHS does not list a loss of taste or smell as common flu symptoms on its website, suggesting it may not be as prevalent.

It's also noted by the NHS as a less frequent sign of a cold.

Other Symptoms

To accurately identify your illness, it's crucial to observe all symptoms. Dr. Parmar elaborated: "Understanding which virus you have depends on the combination of symptoms and their severity.

"A mild cough and sore throat are likely just a cold, while a fever and severe fatigue suggest the flu. A loss of smell or taste and continuous cough indicate Covid."

She also mentioned that shortness of breath is more commonly associated with Covid.

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"Shortness of breath is rare in both a cold and the flu, but since Covid primarily affects the lungs due to inflammation, it's a common symptom," she explained. This is corroborated by the NHS, which lists shortness of breath as a sign of Covid, not the flu or a cold.

This symptom is more frequently found in illnesses like Covid or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

However, it's important to remember that if someone doesn't recover from the flu and it progresses into something more serious, they may begin to experience breathing difficulties. This can happen if the patient develops pneumonia, for example.

Dr. Parmar further revealed that there are differences between the types of coughs you can get with these illnesses. She stated: "Coughs are common in all three viruses, but they have differences.

"With a cold, a cough will be mild, while a flu cough will seem dry. With Covid, a cough will be dry and continuous, and many people will cough for more than an hour or have three or more coughing episodes within a day."

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2025-12-02T09:00:39Z