Can this graphic help you determine if you have coronavirus, a cold or allergies?

A graphic from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control outlines the most typical COVID-19 symptoms. A graphic from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control outlines the most typical COVID-19 symptoms. Photo: CDC Photo: CDC Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close Can this graphic help you determine if you have coronavirus, a cold or allergies? 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

Graphics to help you interpret your symptoms if you're sick are popping up all over social media. The one from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in the gallery above gives a run down of the most common COVID-19 symptoms: Fever, cough and shortness of breath.

CORONAVIRUS: To better understand the symptoms of the expanding #coronavirus #outbreak, this chart gives a breakdown of some of the most common symptoms and how they compare to the flu, cold and allergies. pic.twitter.com/8tGrenZIbk — KSBW Action News 8 (@ksbw) March 9, 2020

Another graphic going viral in Twitter all week is designed to help people determine whether they have coronavirus, the flu, a cold or allergies. The flow-chart of sorts was created using information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health.

First, you're asked if you have a fever. If your response is "no," you're led down a path that suggests you either have allergies or the common cold. If you're answer is yes, you're told that if you have shortness of breath, you're more likely to have coronavirus, and if not, the flu.

As this graphic gets shared in social media, we asked doctors if it's a useful tool.

John Swartzberg, a clinical professor at UC Berkeley's Infectious Disease and Vaccinology Division, warns that you should use this tool with caution, especially if you're uncertain whether you have the flu or coronavirus.

"From a clinical perspective, I don't think it is possible to distinguish Covid-19 from influenza or some other respiratory pathogens," Swartzberg wrote in an email. "Shortness of breath can occur with any of these, granted, Covid is more likely to do this. The only way to make a diagnosis is to have a test. If you have influenza, there is a good and fairly quick test for this, and there is a medication to take."

Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and director of UCSF's Prevention and Public Health Group, concurred and said if you have a fever and a cough you should seek medical care. "The reason is influenza is a treatable disease with Tamiflu," Rutherfod said. "They can do a nasal swab on the spot and they can treat you right on the spot."

Rutherford added that if you're sick, you should also stay home and if you go to the doctor, you should ask for a mask as soon as you walk through the door.

The bottom line with all this medical advice flying around the Internet is that you should always call your healthcare provider if you're sick.

This story was updated on March 13 at 12:30 p.m.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

