Flu and Covid are present in France at the moment. It is not easy to tell the difference between these two diseases, as they have similarities in their symptoms (cold, cough, etc.). Fortunately, they also have differences. How to distinguish them well? Lighting with our hygienist expert.
Headaches, body aches, fatigue… Is it Covid-19 or the flu? Their first manifestations are very similar, hence the risk of confusion. What are commonalities enter here flu and the Covid-19? Their differences? When to test against Covid? Answers.
The virus responsible for Covid-19 has similarities to that of the flu. The two diseases are “respiratory infections such as viral pneumonia“, describes Professor Arnaud Fontanet, Director of the Department of Global Health at the Institut Pasteur and Head of the Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit. Here are their common points:
Symptoms similar. “First, the COVID-19 virus and the influenza virus give a similar clinical picture, marked by respiratory manifestations. The symptomatology is very varied: while some subjects are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, others present serious manifestations or even die.“, indicates theWorld Health Organization. Both viruses cause similar symptoms.“Runny nose, fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, the first symptoms of Covid-19 are comparable to those of the flu” confirms Dr. Pierre Parneix, medical officer of health and hospital practitioner in public health.
Similar mode of transmission. The two viruses are transmitted in the same way: by close and close contact (less than 1.5 meters), by respiratory droplets (sputter, sneezing, etc.) or through an object or surface, previously touched by an infected person.
Incubation time. The flu has a shorter incubation period (the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms) than Covid-19: between 1 and 3 days for the flu against 3 to 5 days (sometimes up to 14 days) for Covid-19.
Transmission speed. The coronavirus has a serial interval (speed of transmission of the virus between 2 cases which follow each other on the chain of transmission) of 5 to 6 days while the flu has a serial interval of 3 days. The flu therefore spreads faster than Covid-19.
Reproduction rate. The reproduction rate of Covid-19 (number of secondary infections caused by an infected individual) is 2 times to 2.5 times higher than that of the flu.
People affected. Children are important vectors of transmission of the influenza virus to those around them. For Covid-19, studies indicate that children are less affected than adults and that clinical attack rates among 0-19 year olds are low.
Complications. Covid-19 has higher rates of severe forms and complications than the flu. Among the complications of a coronavirus infection: acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure or even multi-visceral failure…
In his bulletin of January 6, 2022Public Health France studied the symptoms of 338 confirmed cases Omicron.
- Asthenia (intense fatigue): 145
- Cough: 132
- Fever: 118
- Headaches (headaches): 106
- Myalgia (muscle pain, body aches): 97
- Sore throat: 75
- Runny nose: 65
- Fever feeling: 32
- Shortness of breath: 22
- Anosmia (loss of sense of smell): 22
- Ageusia (loss of taste): 22
- Nausea and vomiting: 18
- Diarrhea: 14
- Dyspnea (difficulty breathing): 7
As a reminder, the main symptoms of the flu are:
- Great fatigue (asthenia) which sets in gradually and increasingly
- Chills, even when you’re not cold
- A dry, painful cough
- An irritated and sore throat
- A high fever above 39°C
- A stuffy, runny nose
- Muscle and joint pain that feels like body aches
- Eyes that weep, bloodshot, or hurt when touched
- Headaches
► If you have symptoms that may be reminiscent of Covid, take a screening test in a pharmacy (antigenic) or in a laboratory (PCR) and isolate yourself while waiting for the results.
► Protect yourself with a mask at home if you live with other people and avoid seeing fragile people.
► If you have difficulty breathing, call the 15 (where the 114 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing).
► Headaches can be relieved with paracetamol, not contraindicated in case of Covid or flu. Do not take anti-inflammatories, however, without medical advice.
Sources :
– Q&A: similarities and differences between COVID-19 and influenza, World Health Organization.
– Interview with Dr Pierre Parneix, public health specialist, carried out in February 2020.