We’re in the middle of flu season, but COVID cases are also high. Two infections caused by viruses that spread in very similar ways and share many symptoms.
How do I know if it’s COVID-19, the flu, or a cold?
How do I know if I have the flu or Covid-19…or if I have a common cold or just allergies? It’s not always easy to tell them apart. In most cases, only testing can determine what type of process it is, but there are some differences that may lead us to think we are dealing with one or the other.
very similar symptoms
Flu and COVID-19: Common symptoms
Both influenza and covid-19 can occur Fever, cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, muscle aches, headache, and diarrhea.
In both cases, the symptoms manifest themselves in varying intensities.
If necessary, the only way to determine which infection we are dealing with is to do a test. Remember that in this sense you can buy it in pharmacies today without a prescription, Rapid self-diagnostic testalthough they have some limitations.
What is the difference between a cold and COVID-19?
The common cold is caused by a variety of viruses (including some in the coronavirus family, although not the same as the virus that causes covid-19) and can cause a variety of symptoms.
Typically, these symptoms are usually limited to the upper respiratory tract: Congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. It usually does not present with fever (in some cases more than a few tenths) and without significant muscle pain.
However, covid-19 can also present with the following symptoms: It’s impossible to be completely sure that we’re dealing with the common cold.
Just sneezing and runny nose, no fever?Maybe rhinitis
Not all upper respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses. Some people experience the following symptoms:
- sneezing repeatedly,
- A lot of runny nose (less concentrated than a cold),
- Itching of eyes and palate,
- No fever.
Then, What we are facing may not be an infectious disease, but allergic rhinitis. Another typical fact about allergies is that they appear suddenly, usually outdoors (especially when the trigger is pollen, in which case it improves by staying indoors), and respond well to antihistamine treatment.
Check your symptoms
Many are typical of different diseases.
Key to distinguishing between influenza and covid-19
There are many similarities, but there are also elements that give us clues.
Lost your sense of smell and taste?Coronavirus
Symptoms considered typical of covid-19 but not typical of the flu are Significant loss of smell and taste. In the current situation, if such symptoms occur, we may be dealing with a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
incubation period
The incubation period (the number of days that elapses between the time of infection and the onset of symptoms) is another factor to consider:
- In the case of influenza, the incubation period is shorter than that of covid-19: one to four days.
- COVID-19 has longer incubation period: Symptoms usually appear after five days (and may last up to 14 days).
Complications and evolution of the disease
There are also some differences in possible complications.
- Pneumonia, respiratory failure, exacerbation of a pre-existing condition, or bacterial superinfection they are their own complications covid-19 and influenza.
- this Presence of thrombosis or skin lesions They are more typical complications Coronavirus disease, Although they are uncommon and usually occur in people who have already been diagnosed.
the situation of the children
Another significant difference This is what flu and covid-19 are doing to the child population.
Covid-19 rarely causes serious infection in children. In the case of the flu, they are at greater risk. But this does not mean that children should not take appropriate precautions (physical distancing, hygiene, use of masks when in contact with susceptible people) as they may spread the infection to other family members.
Another factor to consider in this case Infants and children under two years of age is a possibility Bronchiolitiswhich is usually due to respiratory syncytial virus (VRS). Its first symptoms may be very similar to other upper respiratory tract infections (stuffy nose, mucus, cough), but in this case we must pay attention to the development of respiratory sounds, such as the well-known wheezing or “whistling” (a high-pitched sound, reminiscent of a whistle) and rapid breathing.
Flu or COVID-19: Watch out for the most vulnerable
Still, the fact is that when we suspect an upper respiratory tract infection, especially if we think it might be the flu or COVID-19, the steps to take should be very similar: Minimize our social interactions, especially anything virus-related. . For the most vulnerable, use masks if possible and practice adequate hand hygiene.