Upper Respiratory Disorders: Symptoms Comparison

Upper Respiratory Disorders: Symptoms Comparison

UPPER RESPIRATORY DISORDERS:
SYMPTOMS COMPARISON
  Common
Cold
Influenza COVID-19 Pharyngitis Allergic
Rhinitis
Sudden Symptom Onset        
Tearing Eyes        
Clogged Ears         º
Nasal Congestion       º
Runny Nose    
Sneezing    
Postnasal Drip º        
Cough* º   º
Sore Throat º º º
Swollen lymph nodes (neck)       º  
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing      
Headache º º º º
Body ache or myalgia º º º  
Chills or rigors   º    
Fatigue*   º   º
Nausea/Vomiting   º    
Fever† º º  
Itching (may be anywhere)        
Diarrhea     º    
New loss of taste or smell
    º    
Possible Complications

– Bronchitis

– Ear infection

– Pneumonia

– Sinusitis

– Pneumonia

– Encephalitis

– Meningitis

– Seizures

– Pneumonia

– ARDS

– Respiratory failure

– Septic shock

– Ear infection

– Mastoiditis

– Sinusitis

– Peritonsillar abscess

 
NOTES

Key: ARDS = Acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID-19 = Coronavirus disease 2019

Characteristic symptom

º Symptom present in some patients

* Cough and fatigue associated with influenza may persist for weeks

† Fever associated with the common cold is usually low-grade (100−102°F) and limited to children; fever associated with influenza is usually severe (102−106°F) and present in both adults and children

REFERENCES

1. Common Cold. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
medlineplus/ency/article/000678.htm
. Accessed March 18, 2020.

2. Flu. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
medlineplus/ency/article/000080.htm
. Accessed March 18, 2020.

3. Pharyngitis. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
medlineplus/ency/article/000655.htm
. Accessed March 18, 2020.

4. Allergic Rhinitis. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
medlineplus/ency/article/000813.htm
. Accessed March 18, 2020.

5. Coronavirus (COVID-19). Available at https://www.nih.gov/health-information/coronavirus. Accessed March 18, 2020.

6. Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-guidance-management-patients.html. Accessed March 18, 2020.

(Rev. 4/2020)