COVID-19 VS Flu? How can immunization save you from complications?

COVID-19 VS Flu is a trending concern due to many common symptoms of these two severe health conditions.But what if you get infected by coronavirus and Flu at the same time?

You must know the differences between COVID-19 VS Flu to avoid complications that may lead to death.

COVID-19 VS Flu 

Cause

COVID-19 is caused by SARS-COV-2 coronavirus. Coronavirus belongs to a family of viruses responsible for respiratory infections.

Two types of influenza viruses cause Flu, influenza A and B. Influenza A has many other subtypes that cause the disease.

Symptoms 

Both these conditions have almost the same symptoms, and these include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Breathing difficulty
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Runny nose
• Fatigue

In addition to the aforementioned common symptoms, in COVID-19, loss of smell and taste occurs which doesn’t happen in Flu.

The incubation period for Flu is 1-4 days, which means you’ll have abrupt symptoms in case of Flu. But, in the case of COVID-19, the symptoms of the disease appear gradually because the virus’s incubation period is 2-14 days. So, in the case of Covid-19, you’ll have to be more careful because the symptoms will be slow but more deadly, unlike flu symptoms.

Transmission 

The transmission mode of both viruses is similar. These are airborne respiratory diseases. The virus particles can remain in the air, and when people inhale these virus particles, they get infection. Being in contact with the infected individuals enhances the chances of faster transmission of both viruses.

Prevention

Without preventive measures, the cases of both diseases may exceed beyond the healthcare system capacity. So, for avoiding this, it’s essential to follow the following preventive measures for both COVID-19 and Flu:

• Wear a mask in public
• Wash hands frequently or use sanitizer.
• Keep at least 6ft distance in public.
• Avoid crowded places.
• Cover mouth while sneezing and coughing.
• Don’t touch your face without washing or sanitizing your hands.
• Stay home as much as possible.

Treatment

Both are viral diseases. So, antibiotics are of no use. Antibiotics are useful only against bacterial infections.

The researchers are still in the process of discovering a completely effective treatment against Covid-19. The COVID-19 vaccines are still under trails. Some drugs are reported to be effective against this contagious disease, but none of them are directed to use without a doctor’s prescription.

FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) recently approved Remdesivir as useful drug against COVID-19, but only for hospitalized patients. Many other drugs, such as dexamethasone, are being reported, but we should still rely on preventive measures fully as none of them is considered entirely effective.

For flu treatment, antiviral medications and vaccines are available. You can have vaccination to avoid this disease.

Mortality Rate 

The mortality rate in the case of COVID-19 is much higher than Flu. People can get infected more easily with severe complications that can lead to death. The mortality rate in the United States due to COVID-19 is increasing, as estimated by the CDC.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1 billion people worldwide are infected with Flu every year. In the United States, CDC estimates about 39-56 million people had Flu between October 1, 2019, to April 4, 2020. From these, 24,000 to 62,000 people died due to Flu.

Immunization! A way to avoid complications 

Immunization is the process of getting yourself vaccinated for a particular disease as a defense against that disease. This process prepares your body by forming antibodies against the disease. If you get the disease, then your immune system is strong enough to protect you from complications.

No vaccine is yet available for COVID-19, but you can have immunization against Flu. The flu vaccine will decrease the chances of getting Flu and protect you from severe symptoms as well. If you have symptoms after flu vaccination, you should immediately get medical assistance to get tested for COVID-19. You can have a flu test as well for confirmation.

This is high time to get vaccinated against Flu to avoid the disease. In this pandemic situation of COVID-19, hospitals’ burden due to corona patients has increased a lot. The chances of getting COVID-19 infection from hospitals can’t be neglected. So, it’s better to save yourself from Flu by vaccination before you get into complications.

Now you know the difference between COVID-19 VS Flu. So, follow preventive measures, be aware of any symptoms, and avoid visiting hospitals too often for minor infections.