One thing COVID-19, the cold, and the flu have in common: They can cause all sorts of unpleasant symptoms. Certain symptoms, like a sore throat or fatigue, are hallmarks of all three. We asked doctors to explain the differences between cold, flu, and COVID symptoms so you can get a better idea of what you’re dealing with. Understanding the differences between these illnesses is hard, even for doctors. “It is now often hard to distinguish between colds and the flu purely based on symptoms alone,” says Laura M. Mackenzie-Tangredi, D.O., a family medicine doctor at Providence St. Joseph Hospital. “Taking a COVID-19 and flu test, or a combined test, is the only way to confirm the diagnosis.” To read the full story.