Do I have COVID-19, the flu or maybe a cold? What your symptoms may be telling you

Feeling ill? It might be a common cold, but it could be influenza, or COVID-19 maybe?

Both flu and COVID viruses cause similar symptoms, ranging in severity, which allows for testing to determine whether you have COVID-19 or the flu. Still, there are some differences, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Here's what to know about what your symptoms could mean.

More: How do I know have COVID-19? Signs, symptoms to watch for as variants emerge

Do I have COVID-19 or the flu?

According to the Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 and influenza are both contagious respiratory diseases caused by viruses, and they spread in similar ways.

COVID-19 usually causes a new loss of taste or smell, which is rare in flu cases.

Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are sometimes symptoms of both viruses, but it's more common in children with the flu.

Symptoms common of COVID-19 and the flu include: headache, cough, muscle aches, tiredness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and fever.

Is it COVID-19 or a cold?

Like the flu, COVID-19 and the common cold are caused by viruses and spread in similar ways. This means many symptoms are similar, according to the Mayo Clinic.

COVID-19 usually causes headache, which is rare for the common cold.

COVID-19 symptoms also typically include muscle aches, tiredness, fever and new loss of taste or smell, all of which only happen sometimes with a cold.

A cold and COVID-19 usually include a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and a cough.

Do I have COVID-19 or is it just seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies aren't caused by a virus, according to the Mayo Clinic, and they're triggered by exposure to allergens, like grass pollen. Still, COVID-19 and seasonal allergies can cause similar symptoms.

Seasonal allergies never cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever or muscle aches which are symptoms that can occur with COVID-19. Headache and sore throat are also rare in seasonal allergies.

Sometimes, seasonal allergies cause a cough, tiredness, pink eye and new loss of taste or smell. With COVID-19, symptoms usually include a cough, tiredness, new loss of taste or smell and sometimes, pink eye.

Both COVID-19 and seasonal allergies typically cause runny or stuffy nose.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: COVID-19 symptoms or flu symptoms? How to tell the difference