How to differentiate between influenza and COVID-19?

How do I know if I have the flu or Covid-19…or if I have a common cold or just allergies? The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) explains on its website that 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.

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.

The only way to determine what infection we are dealing with, if necessary, is to test. Remember that in this sense, today you can buy rapid self-diagnostic tests in pharmacies without a prescription, although 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: nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Fever usually does not occur

(in some cases more than a few tenths), and there is no 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 present The characteristics of painting are:

• sneezing repeatedly,
• A lot of runny nose (less concentrated than a cold),
• Itching of eyes and palate,
• No fever.

In this case, we may not be facing 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.

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.