You’re lounging on the couch Netflixing when that feeling slowly creeps up on you: a full-on body ache and waves of nausea, closely followed by a relentless cough that leaves you feeling like you swallowed barbwire.
You break out into a sweat: is it the flu or COVID-19?
The truth is that both illnesses, the flu (caused by the influenza virus) and COVID-19 (caused by the coronavirus), are infectious respiratory illnesses. Symptoms may be similar, but different viruses cause these particular illnesses.
Similar symptoms include fever, cough, bodily aches and fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Both conditions cause symptoms that range from mild to severe and can lead to pneumonia. In a small percentage of instances, either one of these conditions can lead to death.
Say it, Don’t Spray It!
Now, where it gets tricky is when we talk about transmission. Both viruses are spread from person to person via droplets of saliva when the infected person coughs, sneezes, or is merely talking—the droplets landing on the mouth or in the nose of a person within proximity.
COVID-19 Airborne?
Some research suggests that the difference between these viruses is that COVID-19 may be spread via an airborne route. This means that the droplets are smaller and can travel farther distances, lingering longer in the air than droplets expelled by a person infected with the influenza virus. It’s important to note that the jury is still out on whether or not the coronavirus is spread via airborne routes.
However, what both viruses have in common is that they can be spread unwittingly from person to person several days before symptoms appear.
Bacterial Versus Viral Infections
Infections caused by viruses are treated differently than those caused by bacterial infections. Quite simply, antibiotics are ineffective for treating conditions caused by viruses, like the flu or COVID-19.
Prevention is Key
For COVID-19 sufferers, symptoms can be addressed to provide some comfort, but that’s the only real relief available that’s vital in preventing the spread of the virus through handwashing, social distancing, and wearing a face-covering when in public.
If you’re currently a patient and feel that you have COVID-19 or the flu, click here to make an appointment for a telemedicine appointment. All suspected COVID-19 cases will be directed to a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site.
