Do you have a cold, flu or new Covid XEC strain? All the symptoms revealed

IT’S that time of year again when everyone appears to be coughing, sneezing and blowing into tissues.

Now, before the pandemic, this was never much of an issue.

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With lateral flow tests no longer free, it can be hard to know which bug you have[/caption]

But now, so much as a splutter can lead to raised eyebrows on the bus and looks of concern from people in the office.

Is it a cold? Flu? Or worse, Covid?

While Covid isn’t as prominent as it was this time last year, a new variant has arrived as cases have risen over the past few weeks.

Millions have already had the bug and the majority of Brits also have protection due to the huge vaccine rollout.

First detected in Germany in June, XEC has now been reported in several countries – and now makes up one in 10 Covid cases in England and Wales.

As it stands, scientists believe the fresh bug is not likely to be as deadly as some of its predecessors, but could be more contagious.

It comes as experts fear Brits may face a ‘tripledemic’ of bugs this winter, as the NHS rolls out a mass vaccine drive.

Meanwhile, the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)shows Covid-19 hospital admissions in England are continuing to rise.

The admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid-19 stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6, up from 3.7 a week earlier.

It is the fourth weekly rise in a row.

“If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid-19 such as a high temperature, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable,” Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, from the UKHSA.

With lateral flow tests no longer free, it can be hard to know which bug you have.

Here’s how to tell the difference.

XEC

We don’t know for sure what the specific XEC symptoms are just yet.

So far, the symptoms of the new buf are not too dissimlar from what we’ve seen with earlier strains.

This includes tiredness, headaches, sore throat, a high fever and a dry cough.

The loss of taste and smell – once a hallmark sign of the bug – is only reported by two to three per cent of infected Brits, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

If you are suffering from Covid, prioritise rest and hydration while using over-the-counter medications like paracetamol to relieve symptoms.

The best way to protect yourself from Covid is to get vaccinated.

Jabs have been updated to tackle recent variants, though not specifically for XEC, which evolved from earlier Omicron strains.

The NHS is offering autumn Covid boosters to the most vulnerable in October. This will include:

• Over-64s
• People aged between six months and 64 years with health conditions that make them more vulnerable
• People living in care homes for older people
• Front-line health and social care staff, including in care homes for older people

The NHS will contact eligible patients directly, but they can also book their own appointments now via the NHS App, GPs, pharmacies, drop-in clinics, external or by calling 119.

Flu

For many people having the flu will feel like an exaggerated cold.

The NHS states that flu symptoms can come on very quickly.

They include:

1. A sudden high temperature
2. An aching body
3. Feeling tired or exhausted
4. A dry cough
5. A sore throat
6. A headache
7. Difficulty sleeping
8. Loss of appetite
9. Diarrhoea or tummy pain
10. Feeling sick and being sick

The dry cough could be similar to the cough experienced by people who have contracted the coronavirus.

The NHS states that the symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.

Millions can get free flu vaccines on the NHS.

This includes school-age children, over 65s, people in clinical risk groups, patients in long-stay residential homes and frontline social care workers.

Infection rates and hospitalisations of flu are currently stable across all age groups, according to UKHSA data.

But cases will likely rise in the coming weeks, peaking around Christmas time, according to the NHS.

A cold

Rhinovirus, more commonly known as the common cold, is a mild viral infection that circulates all year long.

Professor John Tregoning, of Imperial College London previously told The Sun says that the bug usually peaks in about October but “never really goes away”.

It’s normal for a child to have eight or more colds a year, and adults two, official guidance states.

The NHS lists says a common cold can cause:

1. A blocked or runny nose
2. A sore throat
3. Headaches
4. Muscle aches
5. Coughs
6. Sneezing
7. A raised temperature
8. Pressure in your ears and face
9. Loss of taste and smell

The difference between a cold and the flu is that a cold does not typically cause such a sudden spike in temperature.

There may be more blockage in the sinuses and a feeling of stuffiness, as opposed to flu which is more like total body fatigue.

With a common cold, you can usually expect to see an improvement after less than a week, although this can vary.