Difference between Coronavirus and Common Flu
What is Coronavirus (Covid-19)?
At the beginning of 2020, the news of a highly infectious virus hit the front page news. The coronavirus (COVID-19), first reported in Wuhan, China around December 2019, is caused by a new species of virus called the Novel Coronavirus. They belong to a member of the coronavirus family that was first identified in 1937 that caused bronchitis in a bird and later discovered in humans in the 1960s. They are responsible for causing a range of diseases in humans, including the common flu and more severe and life-threatening forms like Sars and Mers. As the reports suggest, the coronavirus is likely to have transmitted from a bat.
What is common flu?
The common flu, also known as cold, is an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which affects the nose, throat. You can get common flu by touching your eyes or nose after you touch surfaces that have germs on them. There is no antidote for the common flu. Some treatments can make you feel much better than before.
In the middle of this global pandemic, many people are experiencing flu-like symptoms that make them question whether it’s just the flu or the novel coronavirus. The following article differentiates between the two.
Coronavirus V/S Common Flu
Symptoms:
Both the viruses have a similar clinical presentation. The symptoms (listed below) have shown to occur all the same time in common flu, on the other hand, specific symptoms last for a longer duration in the coronavirus affected patients.
| Symptoms | Coronavirus Symptoms range from mild to severe | Flu Abrupt onset of symptoms |
| Fever or chills | Common | Common |
| Cough | Common (usually dry) | Common (usually dry) |
| Fatigue | Sometimes | Common |
| Aches and pains | Sometimes | Common |
| Sore throat | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Headaches | Sometimes | Common |
| Shortness of breath | Sometimes | No |
| Loss of taste and smell | Sometimes | Sometimes |
Causes:
Coronavirus is caused by Sars Cov 2 whereas common flu is caused by the influenza virus.
Incubation period:
It is the duration by the time the person contracts the virus up to the display of initial signs and symptoms.
The incubation period of the coronavirus is 14 days, on the other hand, this period for common flu is 1-4 days.
Complications:
- Complications of coronavirus include:
- Acute respiratory failure
- Pneumonia
- ARDS
- Acute liver and cardiac injury
- Septic shock
Flu doesn’t usually present with complications unless there’s a secondary infection or the person has comorbidities. Some let common complications are:
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Ear infection
How to keep yourself protected from coronavirus and common flu
Clean your hands regularly with soap up to 20 seconds.
Avoid close physical contact.
Stay at home.
In case you have to go outside, use a facemask and avoid crowded places.
Use hand sanitizers after you touch anything in stores or at public places with at least 60% alcohol.
Resist the temptation to touch your mouth, eyes, and nose with unclean hands.
Facts about Coronavirus
Coronavirus is affecting mostly old people with less immunity.
Kids and people of a young age are less affected even affected have many chances to recover from it in 15 days mostly.
Most deaths are of old aged people.
The death rate is between 3 to 12% in different countries.
Hot weather cannot kill the coronavirus.
There is no definite medical treatment of the coronavirus.
Myths about coronavirus
The new coronavirus was studiously created or released by people.
A vaccine to cure the coronavirus is available.
Antibiotics do not affect preventing and treating coronavirus.
Rinsing your nose regularly with saline prevents the coronavirus.
Applying alcohol or chlorine all on your body kills the coronavirus.
Conclusion
From the above article, we can notice that common flu and coronavirus have quite similar symptoms. The main difference between coronavirus and common flu is shortness of breath in the coronavirus affected patients. Although the coronavirus pandemic is a huge issue that the entire world is currently facing, it is not yet identified whether Covid-19 is more dangerous than the common flu as most patients have recovered without any special treatment.
References:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/coronavirus-flu-differences-4798752
https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-complications
https://www.healthline.com/health/flu-causes#complications
Amazing piece of knowledge sharing! Most people are not aware of the difference between COVID-19 and Common Flu, and they are taking Corona Virus unseriously! And this acknowledgement should be conveyed to them!
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