Flu or COVID: five steps to differentiate diseases

Argentina is undergoing an early epidemic of influenza or influenza, while the Ómicron variant of the coronavirus, as warned this week an alert by the Ministry of Health of the Nation. The flu, cold and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, which is why it is often difficult to differentiate them. To distinguish them, paying attention to body signals, medical diagnosis and avoiding self-medication are key.

“As of December 2021, there has been a progressive increase in the number of cases of Influenza A, in particular the H3N2 subtype, with 794 confirmed cases reported as of February 10. This represents, epidemiologically, circulation during a period of the year that is not usual for this respiratory virus, which is commonly expected to circulate during late autumn and during winter (mainly between May and August),” the national health portfolio explained on Wednesday.

Influenza viruses are primarily responsible for influenza, which mainly affects the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. Viral infection usually lasts a week and is characterized by the sudden onset of high fever, muscle aches, headache, general malaise, dry cough, sore throat and rhinitis. The virus is easily transmitted from one person to another through droplets and small particles expelled by coughing or sneezing.

That is why it recommends that the population continue with the prevention and care measures in force for COVID-19: maintain ventilated environments, wash their hands frequently with soap and water, wear a mask, and avoid going to work, educational or public places in the presence of symptoms.

Influenza usually spreads rapidly in the form of seasonal epidemics, and most of those affected recover within a week or two without needing medical treatment. However, in young children, the elderly, and people with other serious medical conditions, the infection can lead to serious complications, lead to pneumonia, and in some cases cause death.

But how to differentiate the flu or influenza virus from the coronavirus?

Flu, cold, and COVID-19 have many similar symptoms. This makes it so difficult to tell them apart, which is why sometimes you don't know which is which. In addition, in both cases, you can get sick with either virus even if you are vaccinated.

Both are respiratory and viral infections whose most severe cases can be prevented through vaccination. The influenza virus can cause between three and five million cases of serious illness per year and more than 200,000 deaths from respiratory infection worldwide. SARS-CoV-2, which caused a global public health emergency since December 2019, has already affected more than 460 million people and killed 6 million.

“People can become infected with both the influenza virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time, and have symptoms of both influenza and COVID-19,” warned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, approximately 7% to 11% of cases of co-infection have been recorded in patients with COVID-19, in which the influenza virus was one of the most frequent.

Although some symptoms are similar, with the progression of the pandemic, the 5 main differences that exist between the two infections and their complications and sequelae have been clarified.

1- Differences in signs and symptoms

Both COVID-19 and the flu can have varying degrees of signs and symptoms, ranging from the absence of symptoms (they are called asymptomatic cases) to severe symptoms. The most common symptoms of both COVID-19 and the flu include: fever or feeling feverish, having chills, coughing, difficulty breathing (or feeling short of breath), fatigue or tiredness, sore throat, nasal mucus, or stuffy nose.

Also in both infections, people may have muscle pain and body aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea, and changes or loss of taste or smell. However, in the case of the flu, loss of smell or taste is rare. Symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting occur more in cases of children with the flu and not so much in adults.

2- How long does it take for symptoms to appear

In the case of the flu, people usually have symptoms within 1 to 4 days of getting the infection. On the other hand, people develop symptoms of COVID-19 about 5 days after they are infected, but symptoms can develop between 2 and 14 days after they are infected.

3- How long can people infect

For both COVID-19 and the flu, it is possible to spread the virus at least 1 day before you experience any of the symptoms. But a person with coronavirus can spread the virus longer than if they have the flu virus.

Most people with the flu virus can spread for about 1 day before they develop symptoms. Older children and adults with the flu appear to be most contagious during the first 3-4 days of illness, but many people remain contagious for about 7 days, according to the CDC. Babies and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious even longer.

With regard to COVID-19, research is still under way for how long a person can spread coronavirus. According to the CDC, “people may be able to spread coronavirus for about 2 days before they develop signs or symptoms (or possibly sooner) and remain contagious for at least 10 days after signs or symptoms first appear.”

They also warned: “A person who is asymptomatic or whose symptoms disappear may continue to be infected for at least 10 days after they test positive for COVID-19. People hospitalized with severe cases of the disease and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for 20 days or more.”

4- How do they differ in terms of transmission

Both the coronavirus and the flu virus can be transmitted from person to person between people who are in close contact with each other two meters away. Both diseases are spread mainly through large and small particles containing the virus that are expelled when people who are infected (even without symptoms) cough, sneeze, or talk.

These particles of different sizes can end up in the mouths or noses of those nearby and possibly be inhaled into their lungs. In some circumstances, such as in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, small particles - which they call aerosols - could spread beyond 2 meters and cause infections.

Although most of the spread occurs through inhalation, it can happen that a person becomes infected by touching another person (for example, by shaking the hand of someone who has the virus in their hand) or by touching a surface or object with the virus, and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

Although the virus that causes COVID-19 and influenza viruses are thought to spread in similar ways, “the virus that causes COVID-19 is often more contagious than influenza viruses,” according to the CDC. In addition, it has been observed that COVID-19 generates many more cases of superpropagators than the flu. This means that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread more quickly and easily to many people and cause continuous spread among people as time progresses.

5- They are distinguished in complications and sequelae

Both COVID-19 and influenza can cause complications, such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute respiratory failure syndrome (fluid in the lungs), sepsis, heart injury (e.g. heart attacks and strokes), multiple organ failure (respiratory failure, kidney failure) , shock), and aggravation of chronic conditions (involving the lungs, heart, nervous system or diabetes).

Patients with both infections may also suffer from inflammation of the heart, brain and muscle tissues, and secondary infections (bacterial or fungal infections that can occur in people who have already been infected with the flu or COVID-19).

But differences have been detected. In the case of influenza, secondary bacterial infections are more common in cases of influenza than in cases of COVID-19. Diarrhea is more common in young children with the flu than in adults with the flu.

On the other hand, in cases of COVID-19, there are complications such as blood clots in the veins and arteries of the lungs, heart, legs, or brain. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome can develop in children (MIS-C) and adults (MIS-A), which was described by different scientists since April last year.

In addition, COVID-19 can leave sequelae, which are now known as Prolonged Covid Syndrome or Post Covid. It is a range of 55 symptoms that can last weeks or months after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 for the first time or appear weeks after infection. Long-term COVID-19 can occur in anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the illness was mild or had no symptoms.

KEEP READING: