Flu or covid-19? Experts explain the differences in symptoms and forms of infection | the health

Because of the similarity of symptoms, the infection may be confused at first. An accurate diagnosis is only possible with an antigen test, but experts explain it There are signs that can help differentiate between diseases.

Influenza and Covid: a difference in symptoms

Influenza is also called a virus infection Influenza, severe symptoms appear in the first days of illness.

• High temperature;
• goosebumps.
• muscle pain;
• cough;
• sore throat;
• bad bad
• Anorexia;
• common cold;
• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
• eye irritation;

Previously In cases of Covid-19, the disease begins to develop from the seventh day, which may or may not lead to respiratory failure.

At the moment, the world is watching with interest how the new variant of the Corona virus, Omicron, behaves, but preliminary evidence already indicates that it is more transmissible than other strains, although it is also less dangerous.

• sore throat;
• Pain in the body, especially in the lower back.
• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
• Stomach problems and diarrhea.

no brazil, delta and gamma variables still prevalent. Symptoms may include:

• Loss of sense of smell and taste.
• body aches;
• Headache;
• muscle fatigue;
• Fever;
• cough.

However, symptoms do not appear the same in all age groups. According to David Stream, a British Health System (NHS) consultant and researcher at the University of Exeter Medical School, in United kingdomChildren do not tend to have symptoms of Covid.

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“Children do not have such severe symptoms and may have other symptoms such as diarrhoea, runny nose, fever and malaise. The same disease can cause different symptoms in different age groups,” explained David Stream..

According to Jamal Suleiman, an infectious disease specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute, the recent daily life of doctors in clinics indicates that: Children who arrive at the hospital complaining of a viral infection of the respiratory tract are often the cases of influenza.

“In children, it is easier to think about influenza than it is to think about Covid. Solomon explains that children with influenza have a runny nose, despair and fever, while in cases of Covid-19 they rarely show symptoms.”

In all of the mentioned cases, symptoms can appear in isolation, without the need to appear together or all at once.

How do you avoid infection? Mask and alcohol gel

Although the two diseases are airborne, there are differences between them. while the Covid-19 has a high transmissibility through aerosols.The microscopic particles we expel when talking, coughing or sneezing, The risk of contracting the flu is greater when touching contaminated surfaces.

“Unlike Covid, This virus has a high transmissibility by surface contact, so we should always keep our hands clean,” explains Jamal Suleiman, an infectious disease specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute.

Solomon says it’s not yet time to ditch the masks and use alcohol gel.

“The preventive measures are: vaccination, distance, use of the mask and hygiene measures. We even insisted on delaying the unveiling of the mask because we were afraid of this situation. All the influenza virus likes to do is cancel tags and grouping‘ continues the expert.

Understand the outbreak of influenza that is spreading throughout Brazil

While the number of Covid-19 cases is showing a declining trend, the number of influenza cases is only increasing. Countries such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Espírito Santo and Bahia already have epidemiological indicators, health departments have announced.

The large number of people infected with the influenza virus drew the attention of specialists who, after evaluation, noted that it was the H3N2 virus, specifically the Darwin variant – discovered in a city in Australia, of the same name.

“First of all, it’s not H1N1, which is more common. What it gives is H3N2, which is a cousin of it. And what happens is that this vaccine that we introduced this year doesn’t cover very well against H3N2. The vaccine contains H3N2, but not specifically The person running it, which is Darwin,” explains Celso Granato, MD, an infectious disease physician and clinical director of Grupo Fleury.

“Besides that, people took this vaccine six months ago. We vaccinated against the flu in May and June. So, you have a vaccine that doesn’t cover it well and you actually took it six months ago,” he added.

The emergence of this new form may also explain the large number of influenza cases among vaccinated people.

However, although health services are recording a greater demand for care related to flu-like symptoms, it is not possible to determine which cases are Covid, Influenza, or have arisen from other viruses because testing is low.

Generally, tests are not done to prove influenza, and in the case of Covid-19, testing rates are still low in the country.