COVID-19 and the flu share many of the same symptoms. How to tell them apart? [WE EXPLAIN]

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There are many similarities between COVID-19 and the flu. Both diseases affect the respiratory tract and spread via airborne droplets. Worse, the initial symptoms are very similar, and this can be misleading. However, there are some details by which they can be distinguished from each other. What are the common symptoms of both diseases, what to pay attention to in order to properly recognize them? Experts from the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have prepared a guide.

1. Influenza and COVID-19 are infectious, they affect the respiratory system. Infection is transmitted through airborne droplets, contact with contaminated objects or through the hands
2. In both cases, washing your hands, wearing a face mask and avoiding touching your face helps to avoid contamination
3. Doctors warn: many people may become infected with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and influenza virus simultaneously
4. For more up-to-date information on the coronavirus epidemic, visit the TvoiLokony home page

Many people still think COVID-19 is “a slightly more severe flu”. Both diseases are contagious and affect the respiratory system. The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, but it is also possible to become infected by contact with contaminated objects or through the hands, and the source of the infection is a sick or infected person. In both cases, washing hands, wearing a face mask, and avoiding touching your face can help prevent illness.

There are many similarities. According to doctors, however, these two diseases cannot be compared with each other. If only because the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is more contagious and more deadly than the flu virus. More people have died from COVID-19 as recently reported by CNN than in the last five flu seasons combined.

Experts from the US government agency CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, part of the Department of Health and Human Services) drew attention to the still appearing comparisons of influenza and COVID-19, who prepared a special guide. The publication focused on the differences and similarities between COVID-19 and the flu. Let’s take a closer look at them.

COVID-19 and flu symptoms. Similarities and differences

SARS-CoV-2 infection and the flu share many similar symptoms, what is more, their severity in both diseases may be different. Both COVID-19 and flu can also be asymptomatic (without being aware of the infection, we become carriers of the virus and can infect others).

Common symptoms common to COVID-19 and the CDC flu include: fever / chills, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue / weariness, sore throat, runny or blocked nose, headache, muscle / body aches. Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea (this is more common in children than in adults).

It is believed that fatigue, headaches and muscle aches are more common with the flu than with COVID-19. The fever is also often higher than 39 degrees C. Meanwhile, shortness of breath and shallow breathing are characteristic of COVID-19. Smell disturbances can also occur in the case of flu and colds.

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CDC experts point out an important symptom: changes in the sense of smell and taste. Although olfactory disturbances can also occur with the flu, however in those infected with the coronavirus, the loss of smell is usually sudden. These people usually don’t have a blocked or runny nose – most can still breathe freely.

As a teaching aid, the Influenza educational toy available on Medonet Market may be helpful.

Flu and COVID-19. How quickly do the first symptoms appear?

In the case of influenza, the incubation / incubation period (the time that elapses from the moment a person is infected until the first symptoms appear) ranges from one to seven days (usually two days).

With COVID-19, the first symptoms may appear later. The incubation period for the coronavirus is two to 14 days (most often it is five to seven days).

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Flu and COVID-19. How long can we infect?

CDC experts emphasize that in both COVID-19 and influenza, it is possible to spread the virus at least one day before any symptoms appear.

For flu, adults are contagious one day before and three to five days after the onset of symptoms. In young children, this period includes several days before and 10 or more days after the onset of symptoms. It is worth remembering that patients with severely compromised immunity can shed the flu virus for much longer – even several months.

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How long can SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus be contagious – is an issue that is still being researched by scientists. However, the CDC emphasizes that it is possible for the pathogen to spread for about two days before and at least 10 days after symptoms appear. For asymptomatic individuals, or when symptoms resolve, the likelihood of infection persists for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Flu and COVID-19. How can you get infected?

In general, the routes of infection with the coronavirus and the influenza virus are the same. Both diseases are spread by airborne droplets (most often through coughing, sneezing, while talking). Pathogens can spread from person to person, especially when they are close together.

Infection is also possible through contact with contaminated objects or through physical contact (e.g. handshake), and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes (hence hand hygiene, wearing a mask and avoiding touching the face).

Both viruses can spread to infected people who, however, have not developed / or have not yet experienced symptoms.

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Despite the similarities described in the methods of infection, it is important to remember that COVID-19 is generally more contagious than influenza. Moreover, more ‘superinfections’ have been observed in his case (super infestation means that some people infect a disproportionate number of other people in relation to the average degree of infection). This means that SARS-CoV-2 can spread quickly and relatively easily among humans.

In medical facilities, you may need additional teaching aid in the form of an Influenza educational toy to help show the difference – available on Medonet Market.

Flu and COVID-19. Who is most at risk of severe disease?

The CDC emphasizes that in the case of COVID-19 and influenza, the elderly, with accompanying chronic diseases and pregnant women are most at risk of severe disease and complications.

It is worth remembering that healthy children are more at risk of complications from influenza than COVID-19. For infants and sick children, the risk of getting infected with influenza and SARS-CoV-2 is similar.

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Another important point is that schoolchildren who are infected with COVID-19 are at a higher risk of developing a rare but serious complication: the onset of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). The CDC recently warned that adults could also suffer from a similar condition.

Flu and COVID-19. Possible complications

Both the flu and COVID-19 carry a risk of serious complications. Apart from the respiratory tract, both diseases affect many other organs and tissues.

And in the case of COVID-19 and influenza, there may be, inter alia, to: pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis (sepsis), heart damage (the effect may be e.g. a heart attack, multi-organ failure (respiratory failure, renal failure, shock), aggravation of chronic diseases (including lungs, heart, nervous system, diabetes), secondary bacterial infections or inflammation of the heart muscle.

In the case of COVID-19, there may be complications that we do not observe after the flu. The CDC indicates a multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), as well as the risk of blood clotting disorders and hence the formation of blood clots, which increase the likelihood of, inter alia, heart attacks and strokes.

COVID-19 and the flu can attack together

Doctors warn that with the advent of flu season, many people may become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the flu virus simultaneously. Many specialists therefore recommend getting vaccinated against the flu (there is no COVID-19 vaccine yet).

Double infection can carry a risk of very serious illness or even death. However, as prof. Krzysztof Pyrć, head of the virology laboratory of the Małopolska Biotechnology Center of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, we do not have to worry that the influenza virus will be combined with the coronavirus – both pathogens cannot combine and create a hybrid.

– Coronavirus and influenza virus are very different from each other and have virtually no parts in common. Therefore, we do not have to be afraid that some kind of hybrid will arise. However, this may result in a more severe course of the disease. These are two very dangerous pathogens – said the specialist (more on this topic in the article: Is it possible to have flu and COVID-19 at the same time? Unfortunately, yes).

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