H E A LT H
matters
COVID-19 and Flu BY ANN CONNELLY AND MARY KATE FRANCIS, M.D.
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s we move into the winter months in Ohio, our thoughts turn again to respiratory illnesses. While there is still much we do not know about COVID-19, we know more than we did at the start of 2020. We are also in the midst of the traditional flu (influenza) season. Let’s take a closer look at these two illnesses. As you know, COVID-19 is a novel (new) coronavirus that originated in China and has swept around the world. There have been millions of cases in the United States, with several hundred thousand deaths from COVID-19. In response to this illness, there have been changes made to our routines in both our personal and work lives, including the ways children and youth are educated. People with COVID-19 may have had a wide range of symptoms that commonly appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; and/or diarrhea. Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, usually occurs in Ohio as early as October and may run as late as March. It is usually spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. Flu causes fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. Most people who get flu usually recover in one to two weeks, but flu, like COVID-19, can be deadly. There are an estimated 200,000 people hospitalized with flu and more than 20,000 flu related deaths each year in the U.S. Similarities Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, with some similar symptoms. Testing may be necessary to tell which one
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has caused a person’s illness. Other similarities include: • Spreads from one person to another in close contact; mainly by droplet when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks; or by touching a contaminated surface and eyes, nose and mouth • One or more days pass between infection and onset of symptoms • A person may spread the illness before showing symptoms • High risk individuals include older adults, pregnant people, and people with chronic medical conditions • Complications include pneumonia, respiratory failure, heart injury or inflammation A table comparing the symptoms of COVID-19 to other common illnesses is available online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Differences While there are some similarities between COVID-19 and flu, there are some significant differences highlighted in the chart on page 39. Prevention For both flu and COVID-19, illness prevention is best. Because they are both respiratory illnesses, prevention measures are similar. For flu, prevention includes: • Avoid close contact with a person who is sick. If you are sick, avoid close contact with others • Cover coughs and sneezes • Wash your hands with soap and water often. Use hand sanitizer
