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Flu vs. COVID-19: Similarities and Differences

General Health

Flu vs. COVID-19: Similarities and Differences

Find out the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19, and understand what you can do to prevent getting infected.

Medically Inspected by: Maria Ronila Santos, MD
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Certain illnesses share similar symptoms and manifestations. Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 have common symptoms, but the two conditions still have distinct differences that would help avoid unnecessary worry for the patient. Find out the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19, and understand what you can do to prevent getting infected.

Both flu and COVID-19 are respiratory conditions caused by viruses, and are considered to be highly contagious. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, while COVID-19 is caused by the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2 virus which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Flu vs. COVID-19: A comparison

These two illnesses manifest varying degrees of manifestation of symptoms, from asymptomatic (no symptoms) to mild, and up to severe. It is also considerable to note that not all symptoms will present themselves consistently in all patients.

          FLU     COVID
Transmission Spread through respiratory droplets passed on to others by talking, sneezing, coughing. A person who touches a surface with infected respiratory droplets then touches his face, nose, or mouth, may also end up getting infected.
Signs and Symptoms
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body pain
  • Headache
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Symptoms are usually self-limiting unless complications arise, e.g., pneumonia is a common complication in at-risk population

Usual symptoms

  • Fever
  • Dry cough
  • Fatigue (tiredness)

Less common symptoms

  • Muscle or body pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Diarrhea
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Loss of taste (ageusia) or loss of smell (anosmia)

Warning symptoms

  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Persistent chest pain or pressure
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
Onset of Symptoms after Infection Symptoms may develop 1-4 days after infection Symptoms may develop from 2 to 14 days after infection
At-risk Population
  • Elderly
  • Those with underlying conditions/comorbidities
  • Pregnant
  • Young children
  • Elderly
  • Those with underlying conditions/comorbiditie
  • Pregnant
Treatment

Treatment for flu is symptomatic and supportive:

Evaluation of therapeutic drugs and treatments are still underway. Refer to the list regularly updated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here to know recommendations on available treatments.
Vaccine Influenza vaccines produced annually to help reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization and death from complications. Several COVID-19 vaccines already released, more undergoing clinical trials. Aims to reduce severity of illness, hospitalization, and death from complications.

 

The two diseases have similar symptoms and the fastest way to determine which is which is by getting tested for COVID-19. If your results show negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, likely you are infected by another condition but need to be further diagnosed by a physician.

How do you prevent infection

Following minimum public health standards is effective in preventing the transmission of flu, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases:

  • Keep distance. Stay at least 2 meters (6 ft) from others when outside of your home.
  • Wear a mask. Whenever in public areas, wear a face mask that is snug to your face. It should cover your nose, mouth, and chin.
  • Follow proper hygiene. Wash your hands often using soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. If water is unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with 60% alcohol concentration.
  • Cough etiquette. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue whenever you cough or sneeze.
  • Don’t touch your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth especially if you’ve touched a surface
  • Frequent cleaning. Make it a habit to disinfect surfaces and high-touch areas regularly.

During a pandemic, it is important to protect yourself and the people around you to avoid the further spread of infections. Follow safety protocols and keep your body healthy with proper diet, exercise, and supplementation if needed.

If you end up getting infected by an illness, consult a physician immediately to be guided with proper diagnosis, medical advice, and treatment. Do not resort to using unapproved medication which have not been tested for use on your condition.

 

General disclaimer

Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

COVID-19 is a novel disease. Information about the virus continues to evolve as more research is done worldwide.  

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