Filenews 3 October 2021
The pandemic caused by the coronavirus "wiped out" the flu last winter, since we all wore masks, kept distance and constantly disinfected our hands, preventing its spread.
This year, however, when these measures have languished (despite the recommendations of experts to the contrary), it is very likely, as stated in a relevant publication, that we will be confronted with it again.
But how can someone tell if they have one or the other infection?
"The main symptoms of mild infection caused by the coronavirus are practically the same as those of influenza, mainly Covid in vaccinated people," replies Dr Kristin Englund, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Lerner College of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic (CCLCM).
The similarities
In practice this means that both COVID and influenza can cause:
Fever
Body aches
Cough
Headache
Runny nose or "blockage" (nasal congestion)
Dyspnea [difficulty in breathing/laboured breathing]
Sore throat
Weariness
The differences
However, the coronavirus also causes manifestations that are not related to the flu. These include:
Blue tinge on the skin, lips and/or fingertips
Mental confusion
Diarrhea
Difficulties in concentration
Need for sleep
Loss of smell (anosmia) and/or taste (ageusia)
Nausea
Pain or feeling of pressure in the chest
Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
Vomiting
The duration
Another (but late) indication is the duration of each infection. The symptoms caused by the flu typically last 4-5 days, while they will rarely reach the week, says Dr Englund.
The coronavirus, on the contrary, causes symptoms that last 10 days in people with mild to moderate disease who are hospitalized at home.
In addition, a significant proportion of these patients develop long-term Covid.
It is a disorder that is observed in up to a third of patients.
It is characterized by symptoms that persist for many weeks or even months.
Essentially, "we are talking about persisting Covid when someone still has symptoms 28 days or more after the initial infection," the expert explains.
What to do
If you experience symptoms suspected of flu or the infection caused by the coronavirus, contact your doctor immediately. He will tell you exactly what you need to do.
If, however, your symptoms are severe, Dr Englund recommends that you contact the EKAB or go to the hospital.
Severe symptoms are, for example, chest pain, shortness of breath, vertigo and extreme headache.
Do not forget only to put on a mask and take away the vaccination certificate, if you are vaccinated.
In any case, it is necessary to test for Covid.
"It's the only one that can really show what exactly you have," he says. "Even if you're vaccinated, you still need to be tested so you know if you have the flu or if you're infected by the coronavirus."
The protection
To protect yourself from the coronavirus and the flu, you must strictly observe the protective measures. In indoor and outdoor areas you need a mask, social distancing and good hand hygiene.
If you are not vaccinated, it is strongly recommended to be vaccinated for both infections. Although you are likely to be infected with the coronavirus or a flu virus despite vaccination, the chances of getting seriously ill will be reduced to a minimum.
Remember that vaccines for one infection do not protect against the other.
This is because the coronavirus is a completely different pathogen from influenza viruses.
Therefore, you need vaccination against both Covid and influenza, dr Englund concludes.
