How to independently distinguish the flu and the common cold from COVID-19

Thousands of people now go to doctors for coughs, runny nose and sore throat. How to tell if it's COVID-19, flu or cold? Especially for the project "News Israel" the doctor explained.

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In recent days, thousands of people go to doctors for coughs, runny nose, weakness, sore throat. Diagnostic and treatment protocols have now changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and people ask: is it possible to understand at home what exactly they are suffering from - the usual flu or COVID-19? At least approximately. Of course, there is only one justified diagnostic method - virological analysis. But a set of symptoms can also tell you.

So what is the difference between three seasonal illnesses with similar symptoms?

Colds: runny nose and sore throat, temperature is normal

The common cold is the most common disease in the world, its official name is viral rhinopharyngitis. It is caused by rhinoviruses. Airborne infection, the beginning of replication (copying) of the virus - within 12 hours. Symptoms gradually appear within 5 days from the moment of infection.

The manifestations of the disease are usually mild: runny nose with clear mucus, sneezing, sore throat. In more severe cases, weakness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and muscle pain are possible. Unlike the flu, with a cold there is no fever, the temperature does not rise.

There are no medications for colds, patients are advised to rest, nasal drops against a runny nose, drink plenty of fluids and observe the rules of hygiene.

Influenza: fever, muscle pain, weakness

The flu is a more serious illness than the common cold. It has been known about it since the time of Hippocrates, who described this disease 2400 years ago.

Influenza epidemics have killed millions of people.

The causative agent is the Myxovirus influenz virus from the orthomyxovirus family, which is divided into types A, B and C. The incubation period is a week, after which symptoms develop in 1 day.

The flu is almost always accompanied by a high fever, severe headache, muscle aches and weakness. Runny nose, sore throat, and chest tightness are less common.

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Influenza is usually sick in winter, not because of the cold as such, but because of the congestion of people in unventilated rooms. To reduce the risk of infection, sneeze not into the palm, but into the elbow, and disinfect your hands after using the toilet and sneezing. It is also advisable to disinfect doorknobs and toys.

The best way to prevent infection is vaccination. The drugs developed in recent years are partially effective. These include Tamiflu and Relenza (against viruses of types A and B), they slow down viral replication and reduce the severity of the disease, but are not always effective enough.

Pneumonia: fever, cough, vomiting

Classic pneumonia (pneumonia) is caused by microbes, mainly pneumococcus and mycoplasma, less often other bacteria. For diagnosis, a chest X-ray is taken. With pneumonia, light areas appear in the image of the lungs on the x-ray (the lungs themselves, being a hollow organ, are normally dark on the x-ray).

Treat pneumonia with antibiotics. If the causative agent is pneumococcus, drugs of the penicillin group or cephalosporins are used. If the causative agent is Mycoplasma pneumoniaæ, then antibiotics of the macrolide family are used.

COVID-19 - a disease with surprises

The disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. And he continues to deliver unpleasant surprises. Unlike other colds, COVID-19 manifests itself in a special way. In 40% of those infected, it proceeds without symptoms, therefore, distancing and wearing masks are recommended: it is impossible to be sure that someone around is not infected with the coronavirus.

This virus can cause dozens of symptoms, and the disease begins without fever or with a temperature of around 38,1 ° C. Symptoms: loss of smell and taste, cough, sore throat, weakness and fatigue, muscle pain. Sometimes there may be gastrointestinal manifestations: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The condition of patients can deteriorate to life-threatening. Severe shortness of breath develops up to respiratory failure, blood clots form in different organs, kidney function is impaired, myocardium is affected, and this can cause death.

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Diagnosis is carried out using PCR analysis of swabs from the nose and nasopharynx. As the patient's condition worsens, blood tests, chest x-rays are also taken, in more severe cases, computed tomography (CT) of the lungs, on which a picture typical of COVID-19 appears.

Important to remember:

• Influenza is accompanied by fever and other symptoms that appear throughout the day.
• If a person has a runny nose without fever and fever, then most likely it is a cold, and OTC drugs can be dispensed with.
• At high temperatures, you can take antipyretics in the doses indicated in the instructions.
• Loss of smell and taste, fatigue, dry cough, and a temperature of about 38,1 ° C per day may indicate coronavirus. With these symptoms, it is necessary to isolate and contact a doctor.
• The coronavirus is still here and will be here for a long time. So you need to wear masks, as well as maintain distance and hygiene rules.

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