Here's The Difference Between Coronavirus And Flu Symptoms
Health authorities in Australia are urging people to get the flu vaccine earlier this year as the coronavirus crisis continues.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said “this is particularly important for those in our community who are most vulnerable for the COVID-19 problem as well as flu”.
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Thousands of Australians are admitted to hospitals with flu/influenza complications each year, and around a thousand have died annually in the past few years, explained Dr Tony Bartone from the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
“More than a quarter of a million cases of influenza were officially diagnosed last year,” he said.
So far 4,500 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Australia, with people experiencing varied symptoms, though some quite similar to the flu.
But what exactly is the difference between influenza and COVID-19?
How are they the same?
Both COVID-19 and the common flu are viral infections. Both can spread from person to person through droplets — usually from coughing, sneezing or talking.
They also have similar symptoms as they both hit your respiratory system and can cause fever, cough, body aches, fatigue and in some severe cases, pneumonia.
Neither is a bacterial infection, so they can’t be treated with anti-bacterial medication like antibiotics. Instead, health-care providers try to lessen symptoms, such as reducing fever.
How are they different?
Coronavirus broadly refers to a type of virus that’s actually super common around the world. Most coronaviruses cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, most people get infected with one or more of these viruses at some point in...
