Taking into account that flu virus can dispersed like wildfire among unvaccinated forums, it’s tempting to be concerned that every cough, muscle tissue ache, and sign of a fever try an indicator you caught the flu.

That is clear, since you’ll find loads of more illnesses that bring on copycat flu-like discomfort, like temperature, coughing, runny nostrils, and headaches, and others, per the Centers for disorder controls and Prevention.

“Any intimidating infection that stimulates the defense mechanisms can [produce] many exact same discomfort,” explains Cindy Weston, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, associate professor on Colorado A&M school of Nursing. Put simply, “most flu merely is like a routine cold,” Joseph Khabbaza, MD, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic, says to Health.

The only method to learn certainly you’ve got the flu is to find tested–but you can find delicate clues to help you separate between influenza and one more.

Below are a few of the many conditions that causes flu-like symptoms, however they aren’t the flu virus.

Colds

Both common colds and influenza are viral disease, they both commonly take place in exactly the same conditions, and they’ve got most overlapping symptoms, fancy a sore throat and a rigid nostrils.

The key change was how fast the outward symptoms come on. “A cold usually gradually progresses sign by sign over [several] era,” says Keri Peterson, MD, an internist at Lenox Hill medical center in nyc. “With the flu, the constellation of the signs of higher temperature, coughing, muscles ache, and serious lethargy comes on in 24 to 48 hours.”

And though a lot of signs and symptoms overlap, common colds generally don’t incorporate chest area serious pain or looks pains, which are additional characteristic of this flu, contributes Dr. Peterson.

Strep neck

The flu and strep throat share lots of symptoms, but there are two main you might find in the flu but never ever in strep: cough and nasal congestion.

Strep neck might deliver swelled up lymph nodes, inflamed tonsils, a surface rash, or white blotches from the tonsils. Not one of the are common from the flu.

When your physician suspects strep, he or she will likely swab their throat and test the bacterium. In the event that examination comes home positive, you’ll likely become antibiotics, that may normally get rid of signs and symptoms easily.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia may come independently from flu virus or it can be a second issue to getting unwell. You may even look like you’re across the flu then bang–you’re stricken with another issues. “People are getting the flu and maybe even driving it out, and a week approximately after, they’re coming in with pneumonia,” Weston claims.

Usually, pneumonia that comes with or following flu was caused by germs might feel addressed by antibiotics. Because of this form of pneumonia, “the coughing is pretty persistent and unrelenting and often related to chest aches,” Weston states. “The fever might be low grade or higher. Very often there’s no appetite with pneumonia, and there are some one pains.” A pneumonia cough also has mucus with it.

Pneumonia that’s not connected with the flu virus can be viral; viral pneumonia is generally milder compared to the microbial sort.

You may even possess some congestion, coughing, and tiredness, that could indicate the flu–but in this situation, they’re merely flu-like signs and symptoms.

Medical practioners can tune in for telltale signs and symptoms of pneumonia by getting a stethoscope your torso, states Dr. Peterson.

Mononucleosis

Mono normally known as “kissing ailments” as it can become passed through spit (with coughing, sneezing, and sharing utensils).