Cold, flu or COVID? Differences between symptoms

Although colds, flu and COVID-19 illness are caused by different viruses, there are still specific key symptoms associated with each virus, according to the BBC.

Most people with coronavirus will have at least one of the key symptoms:

• high temperature

• persistent cough

• loss or alteration of the sense of smell or taste.

How do you differentiate the symptoms?

Fever It is a key symptom of the coronavirus, but the high temperature is also specific in the case of the flu or the presence of another infection in the body.

Fever is an important sign that something bad is happening in the body, usually an infection. Viral infections can also cause a fever. In the case of colds, a body temperature above 37 degrees C is not a reason to resort to antibiotics, since it does not have any specific effect. A temperature above 37.8 C can have other sources, not just SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The flu usually causes a fever, which comes on suddenly and is associated with other symptoms such as chills, severe fatigue and severe muscle aches, according to a statement from the University Military Emergency Hospital. Carol Davila ”.

cough

The cough can take two forms:

• Dry cough occurs when a person does not cough. It occurs at the beginning of the viral infection of the respiratory tract. Dry cough can occur when the infection enters the respiratory tract or when cold air is inhaled.

• Wet cough occurs when sputum is sputum, which removes pathogens from the respiratory tract. Wet cough should not be prevented, it is treated with medication, diluting the accumulated sputum and facilitating its expectoration.

The cause of the cough can be identified based on its duration. In coronaviruses, the cough often occurs in several seizures or “episodes” within 24 hours, according to the BBC.

The Ministry of Health recommends, however, that a distance of at least 1 meter be maintained between people, especially when coughing or sneezing, as droplets of saliva laden with pathogens can carry the virus.

Loss or change of smell or taste.

The existence of taste and smell disorders is difficult to diagnose. An alteration in smell or taste can be secondary to processes in several categories of pathologies or it can be a primary symptom.

Symptoms such as anosmia, that is, the lack of smell, and ageuzia, that is, the total disappearance of the sense of taste, are two symptoms that can be taken into account for the possible detection of infections by the new coronavirus, says the American Academy of Otolaryngology. “Anosmia was especially found in patients who tested positive for coronavirus and had no other symptoms,” according to a statement posted on the Academy’s website on Sunday, according to Digi 24.

What is a coronavirus?

According to the Romanian Society for Microbiology, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are found in both animals and humans. Some infect people and are known to cause common illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

What is a “new” coronavirus? A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. The new coronavirus, recently called COVID-19, was not detected prior to the reported outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

How dangerous is it? As with other respiratory illnesses, SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause mild symptoms, including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. It can be more serious in some people and lead to pneumonia or trouble breathing. In rare cases, the disease can be fatal. The elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) are more vulnerable to serious illness with the virus.

Cold and flu

Although colds and flu have many similar symptoms, the cold is generally mild, but the flu tends to be much more serious as a manifestation, according to the Ministry of Health.

Often, cold It begins with fatigue, sneezing, coughing, and a stuffy nose. Fever may also appear, but it is usually 1 to 2 ° C higher than normal. May cause throat irritation or redness, watery eyes, and headache. All of these symptoms can vary from person to person.

The cold lasts from 3-4 days to 10 days. Most adults have 1-2 colds / year, while children can have 5-8 colds / year.

Flu It begins suddenly and violently, with a fever accompanied by weakness and fatigue, dry cough, runny nose, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain, and a red throat. The fever can last 3 to 5 days. After healing, the state of weakness, fatigue and cough may last up to 3 weeks. The flu is common in winter and early spring.

The flu is caused by a virus that primarily attacks the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes, and sometimes even the lungs. The infection usually lasts for a week and is manifested by: – ​​sudden onset of fever; – headache; – weaknesses; – cough; – chest pain, joints, etc. Currently, there are 2 most common types of influenza viruses that affect humans: A and B.

Type A viruses cause the most widespread epidemics; Type B viruses generally cause regional epidemics. The genetic makeup of influenza viruses allows frequent changes in their antigenic characteristics, known as genetic changes, which require annual reformulation of influenza vaccines.