Cold and flu share some symptoms and, if managed effectively, are often self-limiting and resolve within a couple of weeks in people without pre-existing conditions. However, during winter months, and given the potential overlap in symptoms with COVID-19, patients may be concerned about the cause.
This resource (click here to download the PDF) highlights the main differences between the symptoms of colds, flu and COVID-19 to enable pharmacy teams to appropriately advise, treat or refer patients.
Pharmacy consultations
Step 1: Rule out possible COVID-19 infection
Sources: [1–6]
Step 2: COVID-19 suspected
Sources: [2,7–10]
Step 3: Other viral infection suspected
If COVID-19 is ruled out, it is important to consider whether the patient has a cold or flu, then to ensure they do not have symptoms that would warrant further investigation before recommending treatment.
Sources: [3,4]
Step 4: Recommend options for effective symptom management
Sources: [3,4]
Step 5: Close the consultation
Pharmacy has been pivotal to the COVID-19 pandemic response and will ensure patients are appropriately managed when they present with a viral infection this winter. Ensuring the entire team are confident about the advice they provide to patients will help ensure best patient outcomes.
Promotion: PM-UK-NRS-20-00095
- 1NHS. Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms. NHS. 2020.https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/ (accessed Dec 2020).
- 2NHS England. Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person. NHS England. 2020.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-donot- live-with-the-person#:~:text=It%20is%20very%20important%20that,COVID%2D19 (accessed Dec 2020).
- 3NHS Inform. NHS Inform. Common cold. 2020.https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/common-cold (accessed Dec 2020).
- 4NHS. Flu. NHS. 2019.https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/ (accessed Dec 2020).
- 5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of coronavirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html (accessed Dec 2020).
- 6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cold versus flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020.https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/coldflu.htm (accessed Dec 2020).
- 7UK Government. Get a free NHS test today to check if you have coronavirus. UK Government. 2020.https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test (accessed Dec 2020).
- 8NHS. Your coronavirus test result. NHS. 2020.https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/what-your-test-result-means/ (accessed Dec 2020).
- 9NHS England and NHS Improvement. Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) standard operating procedure. NHS England and NHS Improvement. 2020.https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/Novel-coronavirus-COVID-19-standard-operating-procedure-Community-Pharmacy-v2-published-22-March-2020.pdf (accessed Dec 2020).
- 10The Pharmaceutical Journal. Special report: COVID-19. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 2021.https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/covid-19 (accessed Jan 2021).
