COVID-19 vs. the Flu

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Updated on February 23, 2022

Influenza (the flu) and COVID-xix, the illness acquired past the pandemic coronavirus, are both contagious respiratory illnesses, significant they affect your lungs and breathing, and can be spread to others. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu tin look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses.

Lisa Maragakis, Grand.D., M.P.H., senior manager of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins, explains how the flu and COVID-xix are similar and how they are dissimilar.

Similarities: COVID-19 and the Flu

Symptoms

  • Both illnesses can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (specially in children). Learn more nearly COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Both can result in pneumonia.
  • Both flu and COVID-19 can be asymptomatic, mild, severe or even fatal.

How It Spreads

  • Both the flu and COVID-19 spread in like ways. Droplets or smaller virus particles from a sick person can transmit the virus to other people nearby. The smallest particles may linger in the air, and another person can inhale them and become infected.
  • Or, people can touch a surface with viruses on information technology, and and so transfer the germs to themselves past touching their face.
  • People infected with the coronavirus or the flu may not realize they are sick for several days, and during that time tin unknowingly spread the disease to others before they fifty-fifty feel sick.

Prevention and Vaccines

COVID-19:

Two COVID-nineteen vaccines – Pfizer and Moderna - have been fully canonical by the FDA and recommended past the CDC every bit highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-xix.

The CDC notes that in most situations the two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to a adventure of serious adverse events. The J&J vaccine may be available for those who even so prefer it and for use in certain circumstances.

It is as well important to receive a booster when eligible. You can get any of these three authorized or canonical vaccines, only the CDC explains that Pfizer and Moderna are preferred in most situations.

Larn more about coronavirus vaccine safety and what you need to know about the COVID vaccines.

Influenza:A vaccine is available and effective in preventing some of the most unsafe types or to reduce the severity or elapsing of the flu. The influenza vaccine is reformulated every year in anticipation of the influenza strains that are expected to circulate. It is very of import to go vaccinated for the flu every bit the COVID pandemic continues.

Other Ways to Foreclose COVID-19 and Flu

In most cases, serious disease and death due to COVID-19 or the flu can be prevented by vaccines. In addition, mask-wearing, frequent and thorough paw washing, cough into the cheat of your elbow, staying dwelling house when ill and limiting contact with people who are infected are effective prophylactic precautions. Physical distancing limits the spread of COVID-19 and flu in communities.

Staying Prophylactic from the Flu and COVID-19

With flu season here amid the continuing COVID-xix pandemic, what are the differences between COVID-19 and the influenza? How tin y'all protect yourself and your family unit from both illnesses? Go these and other questions answered by Johns Hopkins Medicine infectious diseases experts from our Nov 12 Facebook Live event: "Staying Safe from the Influenza and COVID-19 This Winter."

Staying Prophylactic from the Flu and COVID-19

With flu season here amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, what are the differences between COVID-19 and the flu? How can you protect yourself and your family from both illnesses? Go these and other questions answered past Johns Hopkins Medicine infectious diseases experts from our Nov 12 Facebook Live event: "Staying Safe from the Influenza and COVID-19 This Winter."

Differences: Covid-nineteen and the Flu

Cause

COVID-19: Caused by the 2019 coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-two. There are different SARS-CoV-2 that have some differences in how severe or transmissible they are.

Flu: Acquired by the influenza virus. At that place are 2 main types of influenza virus called influenza A and influenza B. Different strains of influenza A and influenza B emerge and circulate each year.

Symptoms

COVID-19: Many people infected with the coronavirus do non feel sick or take only mild symptoms, but they can even so transmit the coronavirus to other people. Review the total list of symptoms.

COVID-19 can sometimes cause a person to suddenly lose their sense of smell (anosmia) or gustation (ageusia). This rarely occurs with influenza, only information technology can occur with certain strains of the virus.

Flu: Flu does not typically touch on a person's sense of smell or taste, simply otherwise has many symptoms similar to COVID-19 Rarely, as during the 1918 flu pandemic, a certain influenza strain does crusade many people to lose their sense of taste or odor.

Treatment

While unlike treatments may exist used for COVID-nineteen and the influenza, both are treated past addressing symptoms, such every bit reducing fever. Severe cases may require hospitalization and very ill patients may need a ventilator — a motorcar that helps them breathe. For some patients, medications may assistance lessen the symptoms and shorten the elapsing of COVID-19 or influenza.

COVID-19: Treatment for COVID-19 depends on the severity of the infection. For milder illness, resting at dwelling and taking medicine to reduce fever is often sufficient. More severe cases may require hospitalization, with treatment that might include intravenous medications, supplemental oxygen, assisted ventilation and other supportive measures.

Influenza: Oral antiviral medications tin can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the elapsing of the illness. Because they are given past oral fissure, these antiviral therapies can be prescribed for patients at habitation or in the hospital.

Complications

COVID-19: The evolution of complications, including long-term harm to the lungs, eye, kidneys, brain and other organs and a variety of long-lasting symptoms, is possible after a case of COVID-nineteen.

Flu: Influenza complications tin include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscles (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure. Secondary bacterial infections, particularly pneumonia, can occur post-obit a bout of influenza infection.

Infections

COVID-nineteen: The starting time cases appeared in China in belatedly 2019, and the commencement confirmed case in the The states appeared in January 2020.

Current COVID-xix infections*

Flu: The Globe Health Organization estimates that 1 billion people worldwide become the flu every yr.

Coronavirus vs. Flu Deaths­

COVID-19:Current COVID-nineteen deaths*

Flu: The World Health Arrangement estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of flu-related causes every year worldwide.

The COVID-19 situation continues to alter, sometimes rapidly. Doctors and scientists are working to gauge the bloodshed rate of COVID-nineteen. At nowadays, it is idea to be substantially college (mayhap 10 times or more) than that of most strains of the influenza.

*This information comes from the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases map developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Applied science.

Common cold and Flu Flavour Precautions: What to Do

  1. Get vaccinated for coronavirus. Johns Hopkins Medicine views the FDA-approved mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna equally highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and expiry from COVID-19. The CDC notes that in about situations the two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to a risk of serious adverse events. The J&J vaccine may be available for those who even so prefer it and for utilise in sure circumstances.

It is also important to get a COVID-19 booster when yous are eligible. You tin can get any of these three authorized or approved vaccines, just the CDC explains that Pfizer and Moderna are preferred in most situations.

  1. Become a flu shot. Fifty-fifty if yous usually skip a flu shot, it is especially important to make sure yous become ane every bit long as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Information technology is safe for you to become to the physician for a influenza shot. For the 2021–2022 flu season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, recommends that you become your flu shot in September or October. Inquire your md if y'all should get a pneumonia shot, too.
  2. Don't forget the kids. It's of import to ensure your children (over 6 months old) get influenza shots — and any other vaccines they need. Kids age five and up are eligible to receive one of the current COVID-xix vaccines. Learn more about keeping upward with routine vaccinations for babies and kids during the coronavirus pandemic.
  3. Care for yourself and your family with good nutrition, plenty of remainder, proper hydration, regular exercise and stress management. And ever stay abode if y'all don't feel well.
  4. Proceed protecting yourself from the coronavirus. Fifty-fifty if you are tired of following coronavirus precautions such as washing your hands often, cleaning and sanitizing, wearing a face mask and physically distancing, information technology's especially of import at present to keep up the practiced piece of work — and encourage your family to exercise the same.

Larn more than about coronavirus vaccine safety and what you need to know most the COVID vaccines.

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