Last Updated on May 31, 2021 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A Facebook post lists down a series of symptoms and differentiate them between common cold and COVID-19. The symptoms list is attributed to AIIMS, Delhi Pathology department. We have done a Fact Check on the same and found out the claim is False.
The Claim
The Facebook message reads, “Please note the differences: (1) dry cough + sneeze = air pollution (2) cough + mucus + sneeze + runny nose = common cold (3) Cough + mucus + sneeze + runny nose + body ache + weakness + light fever = flu (4) Dry cough + sneeze + body pain + weakness + high fever + difficulty breathing = coronavirus. Pathology department AIIMS, Delhi. Make this message available to as many people as possible!“
The user named Rajkumar Bhati has also put the same message in Hindi. An archived version of the Facebook post can be seen here and a screenshot is given below.
Fact Check
Is the message from AIIMS, Delhi Pathology division?
No. The message is not from AIIMS Delhi. We confirmed from officials of AIIMS, Delhi who told us that the message was never issued by the medical institution.
Does the symptoms list makes sense?
No. We talked to multiple doctors who confirmed that COVID-19 symptoms are not uniform and similar across patients. It is wrong (and dangerous) to try to identify and differentiate COVID-19 by symptoms alone. A valid confirmation can only be through medical tests.
According to the website of Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC), people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.
CDC lists down the major symptoms of COVID-19 as follows with a disclaimer that the list ‘does not include all possible symptoms’ –
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
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