Originally Published by National Council on Aging (NCOA)
With all the talk about COVID-19 and the flu and how they impact older adults, sometimes the common cold can be overlooked. So what exactly is a run-of-the-mill cold? It refers to a mild infection of the nose and throat that produces a series of uncomfortable symptoms, such as a runny nose or congestion.
Common cold causes in the elderly are viruses such as rhinovirus, coronavirus, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Most adults experience an average of 2 to 4 colds a year. The typical cold season runs from September to May.
Are colds worse for older people?
As we get older, our immune system can’t fend off infections as well as it did when we were younger. That’s why cold and flu season, also known as the fall/winter virus season, is a particularly dangerous time of year for people age 65 and older. Even a seemingly mild cold can pose a health threat to older adults. It can lead to pneumonia, an acute illness that takes the lives of thousands of people in the U.S. each year. Additionally, if you have a chronic condition such as asthma, COPD, or emphysema, a cold can intensify the symptoms from those conditions for several weeks after your cold symptoms have resolved.
How to tell the flu from the common cold
When you get a stuffy nose or a tickle in your throat, the first thing you might wonder is whether you’re suffering from a common cold, the flu, or COVID-19. Here is a quick guide explaining the differences between the three.
Cold symptoms are usually milder than the flu or COVID-19 and tend to come on gradually. Key symptoms include:
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Mild cough
- Headache
Flu symptoms usually have a more sudden onset. Some key signs of the flu are:
- Persistent high fever and chills
- Muscle aches and/or headache
- Pronounced fatigue and weakness
- Dry cough
COVID-19 symptoms can overlap with many cold and flu symptoms—but this illness also has some distinctive signs. These include:
- Loss of smell and/or taste
- Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or heaviness
While the section above provides guidelines on how to tell the flu from the common cold or COVID-19, you should always call your doctor to describe your symptoms. They can advise you on the next steps.
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