If you are experiencing a cough, cold, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms, here is what you should know:
- Colds, flu, sore throats, COVID-19, and flu-like symptoms are most commonly caused by viruses.
- Colds, flu, COVID-19 and allergies can often have very similar and overlapping symptoms.
- Getting plenty of rest, fluids and nutritious foods are the best ways to support your immune system when you are sick.
- Antibiotics do not treat colds, flu, COVID-19, seasonal allergies, or most sore throats.
- There are many over the counter medications that can help increase your comfort during your illness, but they do not specifically treat the virus.
The table below provides some basic information regarding common illness symptoms, but doesn’t definitively diagnose your illness. Contact University Health Services if you feel you need further evaluation or testing. COVID-19, influenza A and B, and strep pharyngitis are illnesses which can be confirmed by testing in our clinic.
| Symptoms | COVID-19 | Flu | Cold | Allergies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onset of symptoms | Gradual | Abrupt | Either | Varies |
| Cough | Common (dry) | Common (dry) | Sometimes, mild | Sometimes |
| Body aches, headache | Common | Common | Common | Sometimes (headache) |
| Fatigue | Common | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Sneezing | Not common | Not common | Common | Common |
| Sore throat | Common | Sometimes | Common | Sometimes |
| Runny nose | Sometimes | Sometimes | Common | Common |
| Shortness of breath | Sometimes | Sometimes | Rare | Sometimes |
| Fever and chills | Common | Common | Rare or mild | No |
| Diarrhea | Gradual | Abrupt | Either | Varies |
| Nausea, vomiting | Rare | Sometimes | No | No |
| Loss of taste or smell | Common | Sometimes (congestion) | Sometimes (congestion) | Sometimes (congestion) |
| Itchy nose, eyes | No | No | No | Common |
The table below provides some common over-the-counter medication and treatment options to help with your illness symptoms. These do not treat the virus, but they can sometimes make you more comfortable during your illness. You can purchase these medications at the UHS pharmacy or local stores.
| Symptoms | Suggested treatment | Over-the-counter medication options |
|---|---|---|
| Body aches, headaches, fever | Pain and inflammation treatment, rest and fluids | Ibuprofen (Advil) and/or acetaminophen (Tylenol) |
| Runny nose, sinus congestion | Decongestants, antihistamines, nasal steroids | Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl, Flonase, Nasonex |
| Sore throat | Pain management, throat lozenges, honey, gargling warm salt water | Ibuprofen (Advil) and/or acetaminophen (Tylenol) |
| Cough | Decongestant and/or expectorant. Honey (2 tablespoons in a cup of tea) | Mucinex, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin |
| Itchy nose, eyes | Antihistamines, see pharmacy page for treating seasonal allergies | Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra |
You can schedule with UHS online by going to your MyUOHealth portal. If there are no appointments available through the portal, call 541-346-2770 to speak with a patient services representative or a triage nurse.
If UHS is closed, there are urgent care options in the community, and an emergency department two blocks from campus. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.