Know the Differences in Symptoms – NBC Chicago

Many wonder if their symptoms are a sign of flu or COVID-19 as the coronavirus pandemic clashes with the flu season and health officials are preparing for the possibility of what is called a “cold.” You may think.

According to the Illinois Public Health Service, there are already reports that both coronavirus and influenza have been “coinfected” in the state.

IDPH director Dr. Ngozi Ezike did not provide the number of affected patients, but said on Monday that “nowhere is near the peak of the flu season.”

Coinfection has also been reported in other areas that have emerged as COVID-19 hotspots in recent months, such as El Paso, Texas, according to CNBC’s report.

Let’s see the difference between the symptoms of coronavirus and influenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Similarity:

According to the CDC, “Both COVID-19 and influenza can show symptoms and symptoms of varying degrees, from asymptomatic (asymptomatic) to severe.”

The common symptoms reported for both illnesses are:

• Feel fever or fever / chills
• cough
• Shortness of breath or dyspnea
• Fatigue (fatigue)
• sore throat
• Runny nose or stuffy nose
• Muscle and body pain
• headache
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, which is more common in children than in adults

the difference:

influenza

The flu virus can cause mild to severe illness, including the general signs and symptoms mentioned above.

COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears

COVID-19 seems to cause more serious illness in some people. Unlike influenza, other signs and symptoms of COVID-19 may include changes or loss of taste or odor.

Another difference is when the symptoms arrive.

Both COVID-19 and influenza can take more than a day to develop symptoms after infection, according to the CDC report. However, for coronavirus patients, it may take longer for symptoms to appear.

Influenza patients usually develop symptoms within 4 days, but coronavirus patients can develop symptoms 2 weeks after infection.

People who carry the coronavirus can also be transmitted longer than those who have the flu. Most people with the flu are infected about a day before the onset of symptoms.

For COVID-19, the length of the infection is still under investigation, but the CDC reports that “the virus can be transmitted for about two days before signs or symptoms appear.” Patients with COVID-19 may also remain contagious for at least 10 days after the first signs and symptoms appear.

“If someone is asymptomatic or the symptoms disappear, it is possible to remain contagious for at least 10 days after a COVID-19-positive test,” the CDC said.

COVID-19 and influenza spread in a similar way, but the CDC reports that coronavirus is more contagious between certain populations and age groups, and coronavirus is more “superspreader event” than influenza. He added that it is related to.

“This means that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread quickly and easily to many people and continue to spread among people over time,” said the CDC.

As part of the National Influenza Vaccination Week, which began on Monday, Ejike recommended that everyone over 6 months be vaccinated against the seasonal flu vaccine to avoid coinfection.

“Infection with both the influenza virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 can cause serious health problems for individuals, as well as the growing health system and health care workers. In the case of COVID-19, “Dr. Ejike said in a news release.

Nonetheless, state health officials are optimistic that the number of influenza will decrease this year, as mitigation strategies to prevent COVID-19, such as wearing facial covers, can also help reduce the spread of influenza. doing.

“We want to make sure that the benefits of masks extend to hospitalization for the flu,” Ejike said. “So keep wearing that mask. We’ve done a lot of good things in reducing the predisposition to infection.”