COVID-19 vs. the Flu

Reviewed Past:

Updated on Feb 23, 2022

Flu (the flu) and COVID-19, the illness acquired by the pandemic coronavirus, are both contagious respiratory illnesses, meaning they touch on your lungs and breathing, and tin exist spread to others. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the influenza can expect similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses.

Lisa Maragakis, M.D., Thousand.P.H., senior managing director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins, explains how the flu and COVID-19 are similar and how they are unlike.

Similarities: COVID-xix and the Influenza

Symptoms

  • Both illnesses tin cause fever, coughing, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (particularly in children). Learn more than most COVID-xix symptoms.
  • Both can effect in pneumonia.
  • Both flu and COVID-19 tin can be asymptomatic, mild, severe or even fatal.

How Information technology Spreads

  • Both the flu and COVID-19 spread in similar ways. Aerosol or smaller virus particles from a sick person tin transmit the virus to other people nearby. The smallest particles may linger in the air, and another person can inhale them and go infected.
  • Or, people can bear on a surface with viruses on it, and and then transfer the germs to themselves by touching their face up.
  • People infected with the coronavirus or the flu may non realize they are sick for several days, and during that fourth dimension can unknowingly spread the disease to others earlier they even feel sick.

Prevention and Vaccines

COVID-xix:

Ii COVID-19 vaccines – Pfizer and Moderna - have been fully approved by the FDA and recommended past the CDC as highly effective in preventing serious disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

The CDC notes that in about situations the two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to a risk of serious agin events. The J&J vaccine may be available for those who all the same adopt information technology and for use in certain circumstances.

It is too important to receive a booster when eligible. You can get whatsoever of these three authorized or canonical vaccines, but the CDC explains that Pfizer and Moderna are preferred in most situations.

Larn more nigh coronavirus vaccine rubber and what you need to know nearly the COVID vaccines.

Flu:A vaccine is available and effective in preventing some of the most dangerous types or to reduce the severity or duration of the flu. The flu vaccine is reformulated every year in anticipation of the influenza strains that are expected to circulate. It is very important to get vaccinated for the flu as the COVID pandemic continues.

Other Ways to Prevent COVID-19 and Flu

In well-nigh cases, serious illness and death due to COVID-19 or the flu can be prevented by vaccines. In addition, mask-wearing, frequent and thorough hand washing, coughing into the crook of your elbow, staying home when sick and limiting contact with people who are infected are effective rubber precautions. Physical distancing limits the spread of COVID-nineteen and flu in communities.

Staying Rubber from the Flu and COVID-19

With flu season hither amid the continuing COVID-nineteen pandemic, what are the differences between COVID-xix and the flu? How can you protect yourself and your family from both illnesses? Get these and other questions answered by Johns Hopkins Medicine infectious diseases experts from our November 12 Facebook Live consequence: "Staying Safe from the Influenza and COVID-19 This Winter."

Staying Rubber from the Flu and COVID-nineteen

With flu flavor hither amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, what are the differences betwixt COVID-xix and the flu? How can you protect yourself and your family unit from both illnesses? Get these and other questions answered past Johns Hopkins Medicine infectious diseases experts from our Nov 12 Facebook Live upshot: "Staying Safe from the Flu and COVID-19 This Winter."

Differences: Covid-19 and the Influenza

Cause

COVID-nineteen: Acquired by the 2019 coronavirus, likewise known as SARS-CoV-2. There are different SARS-CoV-2 that have some differences in how astringent or transmissible they are.

Flu: Caused past the influenza virus. At that place are two master types of influenza virus chosen influenza A and influenza B. Different strains of flu A and influenza B emerge and circulate each twelvemonth.

Symptoms

COVID-nineteen: Many people infected with the coronavirus do not feel ill or have only balmy symptoms, simply they can still transmit the coronavirus to other people. Review the full list of symptoms.

COVID-19 can sometimes cause a person to suddenly lose their sense of smell (anosmia) or taste (ageusia). This rarely occurs with flu, only it can occur with sure strains of the virus.

Flu: Flu does not typically bear upon a person's sense of smell or taste, but otherwise has many symptoms similar to COVID-19 Rarely, as during the 1918 flu pandemic, a sure influenza strain does crusade many people to lose their taste or odour.

Treatment

While unlike treatments may be used for COVID-xix and the flu, both are treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Severe cases may require hospitalization and very ill patients may need a ventilator — a machine that helps them breathe. For some patients, medications may assistance lessen the symptoms and shorten the duration of COVID-19 or influenza.

COVID-19: Treatment for COVID-nineteen depends on the severity of the infection. For milder affliction, resting at dwelling and taking medicine to reduce fever is oft sufficient. More astringent cases may require hospitalization, with treatment that might include intravenous medications, supplemental oxygen, assisted ventilation and other supportive measures.

Flu: Oral antiviral medications tin can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the elapsing of the affliction. Because they are given by mouth, these antiviral therapies tin can be prescribed for patients at dwelling house or in the hospital.

Complications

COVID-19: The evolution of complications, including long-term damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys, brain and other organs and a multifariousness of long-lasting symptoms, is possible after a example of COVID-xix.

Influenza: Influenza complications can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), encephalon (encephalitis) or muscles (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure. Secondary bacterial infections, specially pneumonia, can occur following a tour of influenza infection.

Infections

COVID-nineteen: The beginning cases appeared in People's republic of china in late 2019, and the first confirmed case in the U.s.a. appeared in Jan 2020.

Electric current COVID-nineteen infections*

Flu: The Earth Health System estimates that 1 billion people worldwide go the flu every twelvemonth.

Coronavirus vs. Flu Deaths­

COVID-19:Electric current COVID-19 deaths*

Flu: The World Wellness Organization estimates that 290,000 to 650,000 people die of influenza-related causes every year worldwide.

The COVID-19 situation continues to change, sometimes rapidly. Doctors and scientists are working to guess the mortality rate of COVID-19. At present, information technology is idea to be essentially college (perchance ten times or more) than that of about strains of the influenza.

*This data comes from the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases map developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Scientific discipline and Engineering.

Cold and Flu Season Precautions: What to Do

  1. Get vaccinated for coronavirus. Johns Hopkins Medicine views the FDA-approved mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna equally highly constructive at preventing serious disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. The CDC notes that in most situations the two mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are preferred over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to a risk of serious agin events. The J&J vaccine may be available for those who still prefer it and for use in certain circumstances.

Information technology is also important to get a COVID-19 booster when yous are eligible. You can get any of these three authorized or approved vaccines, simply the CDC explains that Pfizer and Moderna are preferred in most situations.

  1. Get a flu shot. Even if you lot usually skip a flu shot, it is particularly important to make certain you get one as long as the coronavirus pandemic continues. It is safe for you to go to the doctor for a flu shot. For the 2021–2022 flu season, the U.S. Centers for Illness Command and Prevention, or CDC, recommends that you lot become your flu shot in September or October. Ask your doc if y'all should get a pneumonia shot, as well.
  2. Don't forget the kids. It'south important to ensure your children (over vi months erstwhile) get influenza shots — and any other vaccines they demand. Kids age five and upwards are eligible to receive one of the current COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more about keeping upward with routine vaccinations for babies and kids during the coronavirus pandemic.
  3. Care for yourself and your family with good nutrition, plenty of rest, proper hydration, regular practise and stress management. And always stay home if you don't feel well.
  4. Continue protecting yourself from the coronavirus. Even if you are tired of following coronavirus precautions such as washing your hands oftentimes, cleaning and sanitizing, wearing a confront mask and physically distancing, information technology'southward especially important now to keep up the good piece of work — and encourage your family to do the same.

Learn more almost coronavirus vaccine safety and what you need to know nigh the COVID vaccines.

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