COVID-19 and flu (Influenza) are contagious respiratory illnesses caused due to viruses. Both are two different viruses. Flu is caused due to influenza virus whereas COVID-19 is caused by coronavirus. Corona virus is highly contagious and spreads easily as compared to influenza virus. COVID-19 causes serious illness. It stays longer inside the body or on the surface and may not show its existence for longer period. Since some of the symptoms of covid and flu are similar, it is very hard to tell the difference unless an individual has confirmed diagnosis. Here are some similarities and differences between COVID-19 and flu according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Similarities: Both COVID-19 and flu can have varying degrees of signs and symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
Flu: Flu viruses can cause mild to severe illness, including common signs and symptoms listed above.
COVID-19: Covid-19 seems to cause more serious illnesses in some people. Other signs and symptoms of COVID-19, different from flu, may include change in or loss of taste or smell.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.
How long it takes to spread the virus: Normally people with flu take one day to spread the virus whereas people with Covid-19 take two days before the actual symptoms surface.
COVID-19 has been observed to have more superspreading events and it is dangerously contagious than flu. This means the virus that causes COVID-19 can quickly and easily spread to a lot of people and result in continuous spreading among people as time progresses.
If someone has COVID-19, they may be contagious for a longer period as compared to one having flu and if someone is asymptomatic or their symptoms go away, it’s possible to remain contagious for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19.
Older children and adults with flu appear to be most contagious during the initial 3-4 days of their illness but many remain contagious for about 7 days. Infants and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for even longer.
Both COVID-19 and flu can spread from person to person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Both are spread mainly by droplets made when people with the illness (COVID-19 or flu) cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It may be possible that a person can get infected by physical human contact (for example, shaking hands) or by touching a surface or object that has virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
Both flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 may be spread to others by people before they begin showing symptoms; by people with very mild symptoms; and by people who never developed symptoms (asymptomatic).
People at higher risk for Covid-19: People at higher risk as a result in severe illness and complications include:
- Older adults
- People with certain underlying medical conditions
- Pregnant people
- Small children
Complications due to Covid & Flu: Both COVID-19 and flu can result in complications, including:
- Respiratory failure
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (fluid in the lungs)
- Cardiac injury (for example, heart attacks and stroke)
- Multiple-organ failure (respiratory failure, kidney failure, shock)
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions (involving the lungs, heart, or nervous system or diabetes)
- Inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle tissues
- Secondary bacterial infections (infections that occur in people who have already been infected with flu or COVID-19)
Additional complications associated with COVID-19 can include Blood clots in the veins and arteries of the lungs, heart, legs or brain and can damage all vital organs.
Treatment: People at high-risk of complications or who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 or flu should receive supportive medical care to help relieve symptoms and complications.
FDA has approved and issued Emergency use authorization for Covid-19 Vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen. Pfizer and Moderna require two doses whereas Janssen is a single dose Vaccine. Other ways to slow the spread includes:
- Wearing a mask
- Keeping 6feet apart from others who do not live with you.
- Avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces
- Washing your hands often with soap and water, use hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
There are multiple FDA-licensed Influenza Vaccines produced annually to protect against the 3 or 4 flu viruses.
COVID-19 na homa (Influenza) ni magonjwa ya kuambukiza ya njia za kupumua yanayosababishwa na virusi. Wote wawili ni virusi viwili tofauti. Homa ya kawaida husababishwa na virusi vya mafua, wakati COVID-19 husababishwa na virusi vya corona. Virusi vya Corona ni virusi vinavyopatikana kwa urahisi na vinaenea kwa urahisi ikilinganishwa na virusi vya mafua. COVID-19 husababisha magonjwa makubwa. Inaweza kukaa ndani ya mwili kwa muda mrefu na inaweza kuonekana kwa muda mrefu. Kwa kuwa dalili za COVID-19 na homa zinafanana, ni vigumu sana kueleza tofauti isipokuwa mtu amethibitishwa kuwa na ugonjwa huo. Kuna tofauti na kufanana kati ya COVID-19 na homa kulingana na CDC. COVID-19 na homa inaweza kuwa na viwango tofauti vya dalili, kuanzia bila dalili hadi dalili kali. Dalili za kawaida ambazo COVID-19 na homa hushiriki ni pamoja na: - Homa au kuhisi homa au baridi - Upungufu wa pumzi au ugumu wa kupumua - Uchovu (uchovu) - Ugonjwa wa koo - Mtiririko wa maji au pua iliyofungwa - Maumivu ya misuli au maumivu ya mwili - Watu wengine wanaweza kuwa na kutapika na kuhara, ingawa hii ni ya kawaida kwa watoto kuliko watu wazima. COVID-19: Inaonekana kuwa COVID-19 husababisha magonjwa mazito zaidi kwa watu wengine. Dalili nyingine za COVID-19 tofauti na homa zinaweza kujumuisha mabadiliko au kupoteza ladha au harufu. * Ni muhimu kutambua kwamba si kila mtu aliye na mafua atakuwa na homa. Kwa kawaida, watu walio na homa huchukua siku moja kueneza virusi, wakati watu walio na COVID-19 huchukua siku mbili kabla ya dalili halisi kutokea. COVID-19 imeonekana kuwa na matukio ya kuenea zaidi na ni hatari ya kuambukiza kuliko mafua. Hii inamaanisha kwamba virusi vinavyosababisha COVID-19 vinaweza kuenea kwa haraka na kwa urahisi kwa watu wengi na kusababisha kuenea kwa kuendelea kati ya watu kadiri wakati unavyopita. Ikiwa mtu ana COVID-19, anaweza kuambukiza kwa muda mrefu ikilinganishwa na mtu aliye na homa na ikiwa mtu hana dalili au dalili zake zinapita, inawezekana kubaki kuambukiza kwa angalau siku 10 baada ya kupimwa kuwa na COVID-19. Watoto na watu wazima walio na homa huonekana kuwa na virusi vya corona kwa siku 3-4 za kwanza za ugonjwa wao, lakini wengi hubaki na virusi vya corona kwa siku saba. Watoto wachanga na watu wenye mfumo wa kinga uliodhoofika wanaweza kuambukiza kwa muda mrefu zaidi. COVID-19 na homa zinaweza kuenea kutoka kwa mtu mmoja hadi mwingine, kati ya watu ambao wanahusiana sana (kwa umbali wa mita 6). Vipande hivyo viwili vinaenea hasa kwa matone yanayotokana na watu walio na ugonjwa (COVID-19 au mafua) wanapokosa, kupiga chafya, au kuzungumza. Matone hayo yanaweza kuingia kinywani au pua ya watu walio karibu na mtu huyo au huenda yakaingizwa kwenye mapafu. Inawezekana kwamba mtu anaweza kuambukizwa kwa kuwasiliana kimwili na binadamu (kwa mfano, kupiga mkono) au kwa kugusa uso au kitu ambacho kina virusi juu yake na kisha kugusa mdomo wake mwenyewe, pua, au labda macho yake. Virusi vya mafua na virusi vinavyosababisha COVID-19 vinaweza kuenea kwa wengine na watu kabla hawajaanza kuonyesha dalili; na watu wenye dalili nyepesi sana; na watu ambao hawajawahi kuendeleza dalili (asymptomatic). Watu walio katika hatari kubwa ya kupatwa na ugonjwa wa Covid-19: Watu walio katika hatari kubwa zaidi kutokana na ugonjwa mkali na matatizo ni pamoja na: watu wazima wazee, watu wenye matatizo fulani ya afya, watu wajawazito, watoto wadogo, matatizo ya ugonjwa wa Covid-19 na mafua: ugonjwa wa kupumua, ugonjwa wa kupumua kwa kasi (mwisho wa ugonjwa wa moyo na kiharusi), matatizo ya viungo vingi vya moyo (mwisho wa ugonjwa wa moyo, moyo, mfumo wa neva au ubongo), ugonjwa wa damu, au ugonjwa wa viungo vyote vya mwili. Watu walio katika hatari ya matatizo au ambao wamelazwa hospitalini kwa COVID-19 au mafua wanapaswa kupokea huduma ya matibabu ya kusaidia kusaidia kupunguza dalili na matatizo. FDA imetoa idhini ya matumizi ya dharura kwa chanjo za COVID-19 za Pfizer, Moderna na Janssen Pfizer na Moderna zinahitaji dozi mbili wakati Janssen ni chanjo ya dozi moja. Njia nyingine za kupunguza kuenea ni pamoja na: - Kuvaa kinyago - Kuweka umbali wa futi 6 kutoka kwa wengine ambao hawaishi na wewe. Kuepuka umati wa watu na nafasi za ndani zisizo na hewa nzuri - Osha mikono yako mara nyingi kwa sabuni na maji, tumia sanitizer ya mikono wakati sabuni na maji hazipatikani. Kuna chanjo nyingi za mafua zinazotolewa kila mwaka ili kulinda dhidi ya virusi vya mafua 3 au 4.