The symptoms are similar, but transmission is different
Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/coronavirus-flu-differences-4798752
Part of what makes the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) so concerning is how innocuous initial symptoms can be. Just like the flu, COVID-19 most commonly begins with fever, tiredness, and coughing.1
However, many factors—ranging from cause and transmission to complications—set the two respiratory illnesses apart.
Causes
Flu Causes
All types of flu—the most common of which is influenza A—are caused by an influenza virus. There are hundreds of strains that mutate often. For example, influenza A comes in two subtypes and many strains; H1N1 is the strain that caused swine flu in 2009. Beyond that, influenza B, C, and D also exist. How Many Different Types of Flu Are There?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Causes
COVID-19, on the other hand, is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2.2 It’s part of a larger family of coronaviruses, the more mild of which can cause the common cold (although for the most part, colds are more likely to be caused by rhinoviruses), and the more severe of which can cause MERS and SARS.
Symptoms
Flu Symptoms
Seasonal influenza comes on suddenly. Its incubation period—the period of time between contracting the virus and showing symptoms—is 1 to 4 days. It typically causes several symptoms:3
- Fever or chills (not everyone with the flu will experience this)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
Reference: Symptoms of Influenza
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms may appear one to 14 days after initial exposure. They most commonly include:1
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath4
Some patients experience additional symptoms:
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Diarrhea
Approximately 1 out of every 6 people with COVID-19 will become seriously ill.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) say difficulty breathing is a symptom that warrants medical attention, regardless of whether the cause is thought to be the flu, coronavirus, or something else.
Complications
Clearly, the flu and COVID-19 have quite a bit of symptom overlap. But the complications of the illnesses are where they start diverge a little more.
At a March 3 press briefing, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that globally, COVID-19 causes more severe disease than seasonal influenza. The reason? Many people around the world have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains. But since COVID-19 is brand new, no one has immunity. As a result, infection is more likely, and some of those infections will result in severe illness.
Flu Complications
Moderate3
- Sinus infection
- Ear infection
Serious3
- Pneumonia
- Heart inflammation (myocarditis)
- Brain inflammation (encephalitis)
- Muscle tissue inflammation (rhabdomyolysis)
- Multi-organ failure
- Sepsis
- Worsening of chronic conditions
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Complications
- Pneumonia
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome
- Kidney failure5
The most serious complication of both the flu and COVID-19 is death.6
Transmission
Both the flu and COVID-19 can be spread by respiratory droplets from an infected person.6 But current WHO data suggests one person with COVID-19 infects between 2 and 2.5 people on average, compared to someone with the seasonal flu, who will infect an average of 1.3 people. Still, WHO says flu spreads faster than COVID-19, since it has a shorter incubation period and a shorter time between successive cases.7
Treatment
A major difference between the flu and COVID-19 is that the former has both preventative and curative treatments, and the latter does not.
The more mild symptoms of both conditions can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, fever reducers, and cough medicines.8
Flu Prevention and Treatment
Annual flu shots are recommended by the CDC for everyone over 6 months old. While their effectiveness varies every year, recent studies show vaccines reduce flu risk by 40 to 60%.9 Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, the shot lessens the severity of symptoms and protects against complications. Quick Flu Shot Facts Everyone Should Know
Antiviral medications are available with a prescription and can shorten the duration of flu symptoms if taken within 48 hours of symptom onset. They can also prevent the flu if you’ve been in close contact with someone who’s been diagnosed.
The FDA has approved these antiviral medications for the flu:10
- Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)
- Relenza (zanamivir)
- Rapivab (peramivir)
- Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
Reference: Should You Use Antiviral Medications for the Flu?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention and Treatment
There are currently no preventative vaccines, antiviral medications, or other treatments for COVID-19.11 However, on May 1, the antiviral remdesivir—initially developed by Gilead Sciences for Ebola—became the first treatment option for COVID-19 to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA. The FDA has permitted it to be used in adults and children hospitalized with severe cases of the disease.
In addition, clinical trials for other treatments are underway, many of which are examing whether or not existing drugs can target COVID-19 safely.
Reference: COVID-19 Treatments: Medications, Plasma Exchange, and Vaccines
While a lack of treatment sounds scary, about 80% of people recover from coronavirus without needing special treatment.1
Feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being proactive about your mental health can help keep both your mind and body stronger. Learn about the best online therapy options available to you.
Note: For further reading and for links to the references verywellhealth
See also…
Critics said the flu kills more than coronavirus. Why that’s not a fair comparison — and now, it’s not even true
It’s a popular argument heard at protests denouncing state shutdowns, fueled by those who say news outlets are overreacting to coronavirus:
The flu kills more people than coronavirus. Why shut down the economy for this?
But the US death toll from coronavirus this year has exceeded 62,000, surpassing the high-end estimate for flu deaths since October. And coronavirus has killed at a much faster rate than the flu, claimingall those lives in just three months.Here are several reasons why coronavirus is more dangerous than the flu — and why extra precautions are needed:
Read more here: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/01/health/flu-vs-coronavirus-deaths/index.html
Flu spreading: Each infected infects another 1.28
Coronavirus spreading: Each infected infects another 2-3
COMPARISON: Flu to Coronavirus infection rates
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