Because the COVID-19 instances proceed to rise, comparisons between influenza (flu) and COVID-19 signs have been drawn. Flu and COVID-19 share many traits, however there are some key variations between the 2. With the flu season quick approaching, have you ever ever puzzled the distinction between flu and COVID-19 virus?
Similarities between influenza and COVID-19
Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are each contagious respiratory diseases, however they’re brought on by completely different viruses.
COVID-19 is brought on by an infection with a brand new coronavirus (known as SARS-CoV-2) and flu is brought on by an infection with influenza viruses.
COVID-19 and influenza viruses have an identical illness presentation, that’s, they each trigger respiratory illness, which presents as a variety of diseases from asymptomatic or delicate by to extreme illness and demise.
Secondly, each COVID-19 and flu can unfold from person-to-person, between people who find themselves in shut contact with each other (inside about 6 ft).
Each are unfold primarily by droplets made when individuals with the sickness (COVID-19 or flu) cough, sneeze or speak. These droplets can land within the mouths or noses of people who find themselves close by or presumably be inhaled into the lungs.
It might be doable that an individual can get contaminated by bodily human contact (e.g. shaking arms) or by touching a floor or object that has virus on it after which touching his or her personal mouth, nostril, or presumably their eyes.
Each the flu virus and virus that causes COVID-19 could also be unfold to others by individuals earlier than they start exhibiting signs, with very delicate signs or who by no means developed signs (asymptomatic).
Frequent signs that COVID-19 and flu share embody:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or problem respiratory
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nostril
- Muscle ache or physique aches
- Headache
- Some individuals could have vomiting and diarrhea, although that is extra frequent in youngsters than adults
Distinction between influenza and COVID-19
Whereas COVID-19 and flu viruses are thought to unfold in related methods, COVID-19 is extra contagious amongst sure populations and age teams than flu.
Additionally, COVID-19 has been noticed to have extra tremendous spreading occasions than the flu. This implies the virus that causes COVID-19 can shortly and simply unfold to lots of people and end in steady spreading amongst individuals as time progresses.
1. Pace of transmission
The pace of transmission is a crucial level of distinction between the 2 viruses.
Influenza has a shorter median incubation interval (the time from an infection to look of signs) and a shorter serial interval (the time between successive instances) than COVID-19 virus.
The serial interval for COVID-19 virus is estimated to be 5-6 days, whereas for the influenza virus, the serial interval is Three days.
Because of this influenza can unfold quicker than COVID-19.
Additional, transmission within the first 3-5 days of sickness, or doubtlessly pre-symptomatic transmission (transmission of the virus earlier than the looks of signs) is a serious driver of transmission for influenza.
In distinction, this doesn’t look like a serious driver of transmission for COVID-19, at current.
The reproductive quantity (variety of secondary infections generated from one contaminated particular person) is known to be between 2 and a couple of.5 for COVID-19 virus, greater than for influenza.
Nevertheless, estimates for each COVID-19 and influenza viruses are very context and time-specific, making direct comparisons harder.
2. Drivers of virus transmission
Youngsters are vital drivers of influenza virus transmission locally. For COVID-19 virus, preliminary information point out that youngsters are much less affected than adults and that medical assault charges within the 0-19 age group are low.
Additional preliminary information from family transmission research in China counsel that youngsters are contaminated from adults, slightly than vice versa.
Whereas the vary of signs for the 2 viruses is comparable, the fraction with extreme illness seems to be completely different.
For COVID-19, information to this point counsel that 80% of infections are delicate or asymptomatic, 15% are extreme an infection, requiring oxygen and 5% are vital infections, requiring air flow.
These fractions of extreme and demanding an infection could be greater than what’s noticed for influenza an infection.
Who’s at most threat?
These most in danger for extreme influenza an infection are youngsters, pregnant ladies, the aged, individuals with underlying persistent medical circumstances, and those that are immunosuppressed.
For COVID-19, present understanding is that older age and underlying circumstances enhance the chance for extreme an infection.
Mortality charge
Mortality for COVID-19 seems greater than for influenza, particularly seasonal influenza.
Whereas the true mortality of COVID-19 will take a while to totally perceive, the info thus far signifies that the crude mortality ratio (the variety of reported deaths divided by the reported instances) is between 3-4%, the an infection mortality charge (the variety of reported deaths divided by the variety of infections) might be decrease.
For seasonal influenza, mortality is normally properly under 0.1%.
Nevertheless, mortality is to a big extent decided by entry to and high quality of well being care.
