Overview
- GP Dr Rupa Parmar says shortness of breath is uncommon in colds and flu but common in Covid due to lung inflammation, a view reflected in NHS symptom lists.
- Loss or change of smell or taste is described as a distinctive sign that points toward Covid rather than other seasonal viruses.
- Cough patterns differ by illness: colds usually bring a mild cough, flu a dry cough, and Covid a dry, continuous cough that can last over an hour or occur in three or more bouts a day.
- Onset offers clues: colds build gradually, flu strikes suddenly within hours, and Covid may start mild before intensifying, with flu and Covid more often affecting the whole body than a simple cold.
- Although legal isolation rules have ended, the NHS advises staying home and limiting contact if feverish or too unwell, and Dr Parmar urges consulting a GP if symptoms are severe or unclear, noting severe flu can also cause breathlessness.