You might immediately think you've got a cold when you've got a sore throat or a high temperature.

But sometimes what you think could be a cold may be the flu or COVID-19, so it's best to check your symptoms. 

Experts at Pharamcy2U have shared how to tell the difference between the illnesses so you know which medications to take.

How to treat a cold

If you have a cold, the symptoms will be milder than the flu and include the following:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Mild cough
  • Sneezing
  • Aches and pains
  • Sore throat
  • Headaches

Treatments for a cold include using non-prescription medicines as well as drinking plenty of water and resting.

You can buy treatments for a cold from Pharmacy2U.

How to treat the flu

The flu is a common respiratory infection caused by a virus that affects your nose, throat and lungs.

The virus can make you feel exhausted and struggling to go about your normal day.

  • Symptoms of the flu are: 
  • Fever and/or chills
  • Cough (usually a dry cough)
  • Fatigue
  • Aches and pains
  • Headaches
  • Sore throat
  • Feeling or being sick

Pharcmy2U offers advice and treatment. Pharcmy2U offers advice and treatment. (Image: Getty)

The flu can be managed without seeing a GP and treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen. 

Paracetamol can be taken alongside ibuprofen or spaced apart but ibuprofen should be taken after eating food.

Experts add that if you still feel you need to take painkillers for more than 3 days you should get medical advice.

You can buy treatments for the Flu from Pharmacy2U.

How to treat Covid

If you have Covid you will feel symptoms including: 

  • A high temperature, where you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
  • A new, continuous cough, meaning you are coughing a lot for more than an hour or have 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough it may be worse than usual)
  • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat, headache and runny nose

You can buy a Covid Test to check if you are positive and can treat the virus by resting, staying at home, drinking lots of water, and taking painkillers.

You can buy treatments for COVID-19 from Pharmacy2U.

How to tell the difference between a cold, flu or covid

The three illnesses share similar symptoms and it can be difficult to tell the difference.

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Experts share that the key difference between all three is the shortness of breath from COVID-19, whereas the flu or a cold does not cause a shortness of breath as severe as COVID-19.

A runny nose, facial pain, and a postnasal drip can be symptoms of the common cold but they have also been linked to a new variant of Covid.