Why the heck am I sick?

A look into cold and flu season in the midst of the COVID pandemic

“It was one of the worst colds I’ve had in the past couple of years,” a student stated, describing her experience with an illness that’s been ripping around St Kate’s. She suspected that she caught it from a friend. “I stayed in bed for an entire weekend. I lost my voice, and it took nearly a week to come back.” 

Another student’s experience with this mysterious cold was similar. “I thought that it might be COVID, and went to get tested as a precaution. When that came back negative, I went to get a flu test. I wanted to take all precautions so I wouldn’t get my roommate sick, but the flu test also came back negative. I took a few days off and rested, and then I felt much better. But without that, I think I would have feared spreading COVID.”

As fall gives way to winter, more cases of colds and the all-too-familiar flu are cropping up. The CDC is already seeing increases in these illnesses, and the flu is slowly spreading throughout the US. It is also predicted that, as holidays come, colds, flus, and COVID cases will increase due to interaction with others.

Each illness is caused by a different virus. Despite their separate roots, illnesses can have a lot in common, often having overlapping symptoms. Cold symptoms include ailments such as congestion and sneezing. 

A common worry among students is whether their symptoms are that of the evil campus cold or if they’re infected with the Covid-19 virus. Both the flu and Covid-19 show up via a sore throat, fever, and muscle or head aches. Symptoms that are unique to Covid-19 include loss of taste or smell, nausea, and diarrhea. 

Because of the overlap, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends that anyone showing any symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested, because even if a person is fully vaccinated, they may still contract the disease. As holidays approach, they also recommend getting a test before and after traveling to help ensure that you are negative from COVID.

The best way to prevent both the flu and COVID is to get vaccinated for them. While there is no way to prevent a cold, current precautions like wearing a mask and keeping a distance from others can help to prevent catching one. Managing stress levels and living a healthy lifestyle can also lower the risk for all three illnesses. Over-the-counter medicines can help with symptoms when it comes to treating a cold or the flu.

If you are feeling ill, it is recommended to stay home and avoid contact with others as much as possible. If you start to feel sick and are unsure what to do, contact your doctor or the Health and Wellness Clinic on campus at (651) 690-6714 for more information.

A table showing some common symptoms of each illness, and how often they typically occur.