#Corona virus symptoms vs cold how to

Each year's flu vaccine provides protection from the three or four influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during that year's flu season. The flu vaccine can also reduce the severity of the flu and the risk of serious complications. You can get an annual flu vaccine to help reduce your risk of the flu. Some drugs may help reduce the severity of COVID-19.

Researchers are evaluating many drugs and treatments for COVID-19.

No antiviral drugs are currently approved to treat COVID-19. The mortality rate also appears to be higher with COVID-19 than the flu.ĬOVID-19 can cause different complications from the flu, such as blood clots and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.Īnother difference is that the flu can be treated with antiviral drugs. Severe illness such as lung injury may be more frequent with COVID-19 than with influenza. Flu symptoms usually appear about one to four days after exposure. COVID-19 appears to be more contagious and to spread more quickly than the flu. With COVID-19, you may experience loss of taste or smell. COVID-19 symptoms generally appear two to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu appear at different times and have some differences. What's the difference between COVID-19 and the flu?ĬOVID-19 and the flu have several differences. COVID-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, while influenza is caused by influenza A and B viruses. But some people become seriously ill from the flu or COVID-19 and need to stay in the hospital. Many people with the flu or mild symptoms of COVID-19 can recover at home with rest and fluids. You can also have both diseases at the same time.īoth COVID-19 and the flu can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, organ failure, heart attacks, heart or brain inflammation, stroke, and death. Testing may be done to see if you have COVID-19 or the flu. Because COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms, it can be hard to diagnose which condition you have based on your symptoms alone. The signs and symptoms of both diseases can range from no symptoms to mild or severe symptoms. Nausea or vomiting, but this is more common in children than in adults.Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

These viruses can also spread if a person touches a surface with one of the viruses on it and then touches his or her mouth, nose or eyes.ĬOVID-19 and the flu have many signs and symptoms in common, including: These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone nearby or be inhaled. The viruses spread through respiratory droplets or aerosols released through talking, sneezing or coughing. They can both spread between people who are in close contact (within 6 feet, or 2 meters). The viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu spread in similar ways.

#Corona virus symptoms vs cold how to

Also, since the flu has been around much longer, doctors know more about how to treat and prevent it, while they continue to learn more about COVID-19. But through closer comparison, they can affect people differently. Find out what to know and how to protect yourself from these diseases.ĭuring the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have heard that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is similar to the flu (influenza). COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory diseases caused by viruses. You can also have both diseases at the same time.

COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the flu have many similarities and differences.