{"id":511645,"date":"2025-10-19T10:01:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T10:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/511645\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T10:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T10:01:19","slug":"crucial-symptom-could-mean-your-illness-is-covid-and-not-flu-as-cases-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/511645\/","title":{"rendered":"Crucial symptom could mean your illness is Covid and not flu as cases rise"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHS has warned that cases of both Covid-19 and flu have been rising in recent weeks – but without a test it’s difficult to distinguishFiona Callingham<\/strong> Lifestyle writer and Helena Vesty<\/strong><\/a> NHS, social care and patients reporter<\/p>\n

22:23, 18 Oct 2025<\/p>\n

\"CovidThe only way to know for sure if you have Covid is to take a test(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

A crucial symptom could show that an illness is Covid-19 rather than flu, the NHS<\/a> has indicated.<\/p>\n

The NHS has warned that cases of both viruses have been climbing in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed that flu positivity rose from 1.9 per cent to 3.3 per cent.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Covid-19<\/a> positivity in hospital settings climbed from 11.7 per cent in the previous week to 12.9 per cent.<\/p>\n

Telling whether an illness is Covid or flu without conducting a is hard as many of the symptoms overlap, reports the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Join the Manchester Evening News <\/strong>WhatsApp<\/strong> group <\/strong>HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

The NHS website says that Covid symptoms are “very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu”.<\/p>\n

Both conditions can trigger a high temperature, aching body, headaches, and nausea amongst other signs.<\/p>\n

However, “shortness of breath” is listed by the NHS as a sign of Covid rather than flu.<\/p>\n

This is more commonly found in the case of illnesses such as Covid or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).<\/p>\n

However, if a person doesn’t recover from flu and it develops into something more serious they may start to experience breathing difficulties. This can occur if the patient has pneumonia, for example.<\/p>\n

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that adults who experience “difficulty breathing or shortness of breath” should obtain medical care “right away”. This was listed among a number of “emergency warning signs of flu complications”.<\/p>\n

Covid symptoms<\/p>\n

According to the NHS, Covid-19 symptoms can include:<\/p>\n