COVID-19 vs. Flu vs. Cold-Noval Corona-virus 2019
What are
the differences and similarities between the common
cold, flu, and COVID-19
(2019 novel coronavirus)?
The
following article is designed to answer the following question. "What are
the differences and similarities between the common cold, flu and COVID-19?"
The table below summarizes the similar and different signs and symptoms of
the common cold, flu, and COVID-19
Although the
table covers the signs and symptoms of these three conditions, it does not
clearly prioritize the similarities and differences that medical professionals
mainly use to differentiate or diagnose them. Consequently, the following will
summarize the main features of each disease and actual and/or proposed
treatment.
Colds
The common
cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system (nose,
throat, sinuses, Eustachian tubes, trachea, larynx, and bronchial tubes).
Rhinoviruses cause about 30%-50% of colds. However, more than 200
different viruses may cause the
common cold. Colds are contagious, can spread from person to person, and
have an incubation period of about 1-7 days. A cold's duration (how long it
lasts) is about 7-10 days. However, depending upon the viral strain, a cold can
last up to 2 weeks. Colds are a mild upper respiratory illness with a runny,
stuffy nose without fever. Doctors mainly
diagnose colds using clinical observation and medical history. No tests are
necessary.
Flu
(influenza)
Influenza
(commonly termed the flu) is a viral infection of the upper respiratory and/or
lower respiratory system. Influenza viruses cause the flu. These viruses
usually cause more serious symptoms in the respiratory system than cold-causing
viruses. The flu is contagious, can spread from person to person, and has an
incubation period of about 1-4 days. The flu's duration varies from about 5
days to 2 weeks depending upon the severity of the infection. The flu can
become an intense and potentially fatal illness (pneumonia)
in some individuals. Hallmarks of the flu include mild to high fever, moderate
to severe headache, cough, fatigue, and body
aches/pains. Severe flu may have symptoms that develop rapidly and require
supportive care. Doctors diagnose the flu based on clinical symptoms and by
readily available lab tests.
COVID-19 (also
termed the Wuhancoronavirus, 2019novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV,
and others) is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA coronavirus. It is a new
strain of coronavirus (the term corona means crown) responsible for
causing a pandemic of serious respiratory problems that started in Wuhan,
China. Researchers believe it originated from infected animals and jumped over
to infecting people in a large open seafood/animal market. Also, it has been
able to spread from person to person and is rapidly spreading worldwide.
It is related to the SARS and MERS coronaviruses.
It has an incubation period ranging from 2-14 days. Person-to-person spread may
happen even if the infected person has no symptoms during the incubation
period. Infected people may also not be aware they have the virus and may not
show symptoms. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are fever (usually high), moderate
to severe coughing,
and shortness of breath. Other symptoms and signs may include a sore throat, diarrhea, body aches and pains, and a stuffy or runny nose.
At first, it seemed to target people over 60 years old and have severe
underlying health conditions like heart
disease, lung disease, and diabetes,
but recent data from Italy suggests that people 20-60 years of age may get the
disease at about the same rate. About 80% recover without specific treatment,
while about 20% may require some respiratory support (oxygen and/or ventilator
support).
Treatments for COVID-19, flu, and the
common cold
Colds: Doctors recommend rest, fluids,
and over-the-counter (OTC)
medications like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
No vaccine is
available for the common cold.
Flu: Early treatment with an antiviral
drug like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), rest,
fluids, and acetaminophen and respiratory support can help if flu symptoms become
severe. Vaccines are
available to reduce symptoms or prevent the flu.
COVID-19: Medical professionals recommend
rest, fluids, acetaminophen, and respiratory support if COVID-19 symptoms
become severe. Antiviral drug and vaccine research is very active but none are
currently available.
Antibiotics
are not indicated for these three viral diseases. However, they may be useful
if secondary bacterial infections.
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