Flu vs COVID Symptoms - Pediatric Urgent Care COVID Testing

COVID-19 vs. Other Illnesses: What Parents Need to Know

Respiratory illnesses are common in children and teens, especially during cold and flu season. With COVID-19 on the rise, it’s normal for parents and caregivers to wonder how to tell the difference between COVID and other infections, like the flu, RSV, strep throat, or the common cold. Understanding the differences can help you make informed decisions about testing, isolation, and care.

Symptom Checker

For Educational Purposes Only
Symptom	COVID-19	Flu	Strep Throat	RSV	Common Cold
Fever	Common, mild–high	Common, sudden high	Common, sudden high	Possible (esp. infants/young kids)	Rare, usually low-grade
Cough	Common, dry or productive	Common, typically dry	Rare	Common; can be severe	Mild, hacking
Sore Throat	Sometimes	Sometimes	Very common, severe	Sometimes	Common, mild
Runny/Stuffy Nose	Sometimes	Sometimes	Rare	Common	Very common
Headache	Sometimes	Common, often intense	Sometimes (mild)	Rare	Rare
Muscle Aches	Sometimes	Common, often severe	Rare	Sometimes (mild)	Rare or mild
Fatigue	Common; can be prolonged	Common, often severe	Sometimes	Sometimes	Mild, short-lived
Loss of Taste/Smell	Distinctive	Rare	Rare	Rare	Rare
Shortness of Breath	Sometimes (moderate–severe)	Rare	Rare	Sometimes; wheezing in infants	Rare
Onset	Gradual; 2–14 days	Sudden; 1–4 days	Sudden; 2–5 days	Gradual	Gradual
Duration	5–14+ days	5–7 days	3–7 days	1–2 weeks	5–10 days

Parents should contact a healthcare provider if their child has trouble breathing or wheezing, a high fever that does not improve, severe fatigue or body aches, or signs of dehydration. At Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care, we provide testing, evaluation, and treatment for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Our team is here to support families and help children get the care they need quickly and safely. Walk in or save your spot online today!