How Do Doctors Know if You Have the Flu

How to Tell the Difference Between COVID-19 and Influenza

Flu season peaks between December and Feb. Paired with the ongoing battle with COVID-19, medical experts from NewYork-Presbyterian medical groups say we could have a "twindemic" on our hands — an influenza epidemic unfolding in the middle of a relentless COVID-nineteen pandemic.

The 2019 flu virus caused an estimated 35 meg illnesses in the U.S. The severity of this year'due south flu season is unpredictable, but a lot of people may be coughing and sneezing, so the likelihood of transmission is much higher when you're having active symptoms.

Simply what exactly are those symptoms? Simply as in the spring when information technology was difficult to tell the departure betwixt seasonal allergies and COVID-19, the challenge now volition be identifying what could exist signs of COVID-xix vs. influenza.

COVID-19 vs. Flu: What'due south the Difference?

Medical experts say that it may be very hard to tell the difference between influenza and COVID. Therefore, although we outline the differences below, it is recommended to call your doctor to ensure the diagnosis and that you lot take the proper steps.

Even though the flu and COVID-xix are caused by two totally different viruses, they share a number of symptoms:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Torso aches
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

There are, nonetheless, two singled-out differences between the flu and the coronavirus that causes COVID-xix.

First, the loss of taste and smell is specific to COVID-19 and is not seen in people who have the flu. While it does not happen in all patients, this is a very important deviation that can help distinguish between symptoms of flu and COVID-19 (about 38% to 55% of patients have reported loss of taste and around 40% accept reported loss of odour). This specific symptom might come on anywhere from two days after contracting the virus to up to 14 days afterward symptom onset.

Second, the fashion in which symptoms present themselves in patients is very different. Both the flu and COVID-nineteen cause a cough and shortness of breath, but overall, COVID-19 symptoms tend to concluding longer than the influenza. Medical experts say COVID-19 symptoms may concluding for several weeks if not months.
Shortness of breath can as well come up after with COVID-nineteen and becomes more severe and long-lasting than the flu.

There are also some new and ongoing reports of symptoms associated with COVID-19 that people should be on the scout for:

Carmine, swollen eyes. In that location have been occasional reports of red, swollen, and itchy optics in some COVID-xix patients, which tin wait like conjunctivitis (or pink eye). This is a symptom that can come on with other strains of coronavirus, so while not a distinguishing factor for COVID-nineteen specifically, it's something to be watchful for.

Skin rashes. Viruses are often associated with rashes, and then it's not unusual for yous or your child to develop ane. Mostly reported in younger people, early on data suggests that unlike skin conditions may coincide with COVID-xix. These may range from little ruby bumps and hives to chilblains — now temporarily chosen 'COVID toes' — which are painful, red-purple, or itchy bumps on the toes.

If you or your child has any new skin condition or rash, call your doctor just to be safe. Since it can exist hard for a clinician to distinguish whether a peel rash is from a COVID-19 infection or, say, hand, human foot, and rima oris disease (a viral infection that manifests as painful oral fissure sores and blisters on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet), your doctor will likely desire to test you lot or your child for COVID-19.

How to Tell the Departure Between COVID-xix vs. Influenza in Children

Reports take shown that COVID-19 is less severe in children than it is in adults. Information technology'southward too rare, making up about 1% to two% of COVID-19 cases worldwide. That beingness said, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), while rare, is a condition associated with COVID-19 and can occur in children ranging from toddlers to teens.  Lookout for symptoms, including fever, airsickness, lethargy, and abdominal pain. If your kid is experiencing mutual influenza symptoms coupled with whatsoever of the above symptoms, contact their pediatrician.

What to Do if You Think You Take the Flu, COVID-19 — or Both

Yes, information technology'southward possible to exam positive for the flu and COVID-19 at the aforementioned time, but experts say the chances of having a coinfection are very, very low. If you detect yourself experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this article, here's a game plan for how to speedily determine a diagnosis.

• Talk to your medico. If you're coming downwards with a telltale sign of COVID-nineteen or the flu, seek medical care. Experts say it'due south a proficient idea to put on a mask and self-isolate from your family if you have symptoms, to play it rubber.
• Go tested. Experts agree that it'south important to be tested as quickly as possible for COVID-19 and flu. Here'south some expert news: The olfactory organ swab can be used to test for both COVID-19and the flu. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or local health clinic, or visit an urgent intendance middle where tests should be available.
• Beginning handling. Afterward a diagnosis, movement forward with the advisable treatment. For the flu, the gold standard is an antiviral drug that your doc might prescribe which helps to lessen the severity of symptoms and shorten elapsing of the illness. For milder cases of COVID-nineteen, most people can recover at domicile past monitoring their symptoms, resting, and drinking fluids.

If you are having problem breathing, persistent pain, chest pressure, new confusion, an inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face, seek emergency medical care immediately.

How to Protect Yourself Against the Flu and COVID-19

To avert a potential "twindemic" this year, medical experts at NewYork-Presbyterian medical groups recommend taking the following precautions:

• Go a flu shot.  Call your doctor now to schedule an appointment to get your flu shot, as y'all should receive it prior to the COVID-xix vaccine.

If there was always a year when you were going to get a flu shot, this is the yr. Call your doc to make an appointment.

• Practice safety precautions.Fortunately, the preventive measures for COVID-19 as well use for the flu: avoiding large crowds and gatherings, wearing a mask, social distancing, frequent handwashing, and staying at home when you feel sick.
• Take care of your immune system.Caring for your immune organization is very important to fight off infections, especially viruses. Heave your immunity past eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting plenty slumber.

For more articles about science, care, and wellness, visit healthmatters.nyp.org.

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Source: https://www.nyp.org/medicalgroups/queens/for-patients/healthcare-articles/covid-19-vs-flu

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