All signs you have Covid and not flu as people concerned over missing Christmas day

People often mix up the symptoms associated with Covid-19 with that of the flu, which can often lead to a misdiagnosis or worrying about the effectiveness of those jabs you had years ago.

Some have questioned the legitimacy of the vaccine in the years since the pandemic, but new studies have suggested what the majority have believed - that it has been effective.

While over 7.1 million people are said to have died from the disease, with 227,000 of those being Brits, a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that adults who were vaccinated in France had a 25 percent lower risk of all-cause death compared to those who were vaccine-free.

This was from a total of 22.7 million vaccinated people and 5.9 million unvaccinated individuals.

But the fact of the matter is, getting the Covid vaccine doesn't mean you can't fall ill with the disease.

Being ill with Covid or the flu can often get mixed up (Getty Stock Image)

You've probably noticed your work mates dropping like flies in the past few weeks, as it looks like the seasonal bug has come early.

However, they may be calling in sick for different things, so it's worth noting that there are differences between Covid and the flu, as they are easy to muddle up.

People have started worrying that contracting Covid over this Christmas period may stop them from seeing loved ones, especially the elderly - so here are the signs to look out for and what differentiates a common flu and Covid.

Symptoms of the flu

Also known as influenza, this is a viral infection which can affect the nose, throat and lungs, says the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

This is worse than an standard cold, much like Covid, though there are a number of symptoms which sets it apart.

The flu can actually lead to serious illness, especially in children and older people, and those with long-term health conditions are also at a higher risk.

Last winter alone saw 8,000 deaths linked with the flu, more than doubling the figure from 2023.

These are the main symptoms of the flu:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Throat irritation
• Symptoms come on suddenly
• Feeling exhausted
• Fever
• Body/muscle aches

The best way to determine if you have Covid is to get a PCR test (Getty Stock Image)

Symptoms of Covid

While it's been six years since the first case of the disease surfaced in Wuhan, China, the disease still exists, though it is far less severe than it once was following wide-scale vaccination programmes.

The World Health Organisation revealed that 67 percent of the world's population had been vaccinated, despite cases of rare side effects making the news in years past.

But what makes the condition so different to the flu?

According to experts, a differentiation in the cough is one of the tell-tale signs, as a Covid cough is more dry and persistent.

The NHS describes this as having over three coughing episodes in a 24-hour period.

Apart from this, the main symptoms to look out for are as follows:

• Flu symptoms
• Diarrhoea or upset stomach
• Loss of taste or smell

The latter two are what differentiate the condition from the flu, and it is advised that you stay home and avoid contact with others if these are consistent with flu symptoms.

Do you remember these? (Getty Stock Image)

What have doctors said about differences between Covid and the flu?

Dr Rupa Parmar, a GP and medical director at Midland Health, highlighted that the main symptom that is easily identifiable is the type of cough you have.

This can help determine if you have Covid or the flu, as she said that 'a flu cough will seem dry', usually coming on quickly, while a cold is 'more mild'.

Speaking of Covid, Dr Parmar explained: "With Covid, a cough will be dry and continuous, and many people will cough for more than an hour or have three or more coughing episodes within a day."