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Understanding the difference between the cold and COVID-19

Posted at 9:22 AM, Jul 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-30 23:25:06-04

WEST BEND — Watch Julia Fello's full story tonight at 10 p.m. on TMJ4 News.

TMJ4 News is committed to helping you make the best decisions for your family when it comes to going back to school.

As part of our “Safely Back to School” commitment, we are dedicating reports to empower you to be more informed.

We spoke to a doctor about how to tell the difference between COVID-19 and the common cold.

Dr. Chad Tamez at West Bend Medical understands parents' worries.

He shares the stark differences parents should look for. The first is a fever.

“You can get fevers with colds but they tend to be a little more subtle the symptoms tend to be a little [milder],” said Tamez. “The classic severe style symptoms of COVID high fever seems to be the case 102-plus degree [fever], cough is still one of the hallmark symptoms of severe COVID.”

Tamez has found another sign along with fever is diarrhea.

“[Gastrointestinal] symptoms don’t typically come on with a cold.”

Here is why you cannot immediately leap to COVID-19.

“You don’t typically see that with the common cold but you will see it with a stomach bug so if you get gastroenteritis which is common all year round.”

Tamez encourages all of us to continue to wash your hands and wear a mask when in public indoors.

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