Flu or COVID? How symptoms start can tell you which sickness you have

(NEXSTAR) – It's that time of year again. The coughing, sneezing and sniffling is all around us, as both influenza and COVID-19 start to spread.

When you start to feel sick, it can be hard to tell which respiratory virus you've been hit with. The flu and COVID share a lot of common symptoms: fever, congestion, a sore throat, coughing, fatigue and aches.

However, the symptoms' onset usually differs, according to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. While COVID symptoms tend to start gradually then escalate rapidly, the flu hits hard and fast from the get-go.

The viruses also have different incubation periods, according to the Mayo Clinic. Flu symptoms usually start between one and four days after someone is exposed to the virus. Meanwhile, it can take anywhere from two to 14