LONDON, December 22, 2025 — A surge in respiratory illnesses is hitting the UK just before Christmas, with hospitals reporting a record 3,140 patients admitted with the flu last week – an 18 percent jump from the week prior. It’s a tricky time to decipher what’s ailing you, so how do you tell a common cold, the flu, or even COVID-19 apart?
Decoding Your Winter Symptoms: Cold, Flu, or COVID?
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As winter viruses circulate, understanding the differences in symptoms is key to protecting yourself and others.
- Flu hospitalizations are at a record high for this time of year.
- While flu activity appears to be stabilizing, health officials caution it could surge again.
- COVID-19 activity remains stable, circulating at baseline levels.
- RSV continues to circulate, particularly impacting young children.
Is that sniffle just a cold, or something more serious? With a “super flu” – a mutated version of the influenza A(H3N2) virus – making the rounds, and COVID-19 and RSV still present, figuring out what’s going on can feel like a medical mystery. Here’s a breakdown of the symptoms to help you navigate this winter’s illness landscape.
What’s the Difference? A Quick Guide
Q: How can I tell if I have a cold, the flu, or COVID-19?
A: While symptoms can overlap, the flu typically comes on suddenly with fever and body aches, COVID-19 presents a wider range of symptoms including loss of smell and gastrointestinal issues, and a common cold usually develops gradually with milder symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat.
Common Cold
According to health officials, the common cold is most often caused by rhinoviruses. Key symptoms include:
- A blocked or runny nose
- Sneezing
- A sore throat
- A hoarse voice
- A cough
- Feeling tired and unwell
You might also experience a mild headache, aching muscles, and a slight fever. Symptoms typically develop over two to three days.
Flu
Influenza, or the flu, is a more severe viral infection affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms tend to hit hard and fast, often including a high fever, body aches, and significant fatigue.
COVID-19
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Loss of smell
- Hoarseness
- Throat pain
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
Currently, the main COVID-19 variants circulating in the UK are XFG (Stratus) and NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus). Experts note that Stratus is often associated with hoarseness and fatigue, while Nimbus can cause a particularly painful sore throat, described as feeling like razor blades.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects around 90 percent of children within their first two years of life and can lead to severe lung infections, making it a leading cause of infant mortality worldwide.
Staying Safe This Christmas
As flu cases surge, health officials are urging caution. Dr. Alex Allen, a Consultant Epidemiologist, stated on December 22, 2025, “It’s reassuring to see that flu levels are now starting to stabilise, but flu is notoriously unpredictable and can bounce back and peak a second time in the new year. We’re urging people to continue taking sensible steps over the festive period to help stop the spread.”
Dr. Allen continued, “There are simple steps we can all take to protect one another when mixing indoors. If you have flu or COVID-19 symptoms, including a high temperature, cough and feeling tired or achy, you should try to minimise contact with others, especially those more vulnerable. Washing hands regularly and ensuring indoor spaces are well ventilated helps, and we advise those who have symptoms and need to go out, to consider wearing a face covering.”
“For anyone eligible who is still not vaccinated, it’s not too late to get protected for the rest of the winter, but time is running out. Please make an appointment as soon as you can as vaccination can make all the difference in preventing severe illness and hospitalisation. By continuing to take these precautions, we can all do our bit to reduce the chances of another spike.”
What are your plans to stay healthy this winter? Share your tips in the comments below!
