… Testing is needed to tell which illness you have and to confirm the proper diagnosis, needed treatment, and protective practices indicated.
Dr. Suzanne Nadra Nouri Havican, ThedaCare Physicians-New London
Feeling sick isn’t easy. When it’s hard to tell exactly what you have, it makes you downright miserable. A prime example of this is seasonal flu and COVID-19. With many shared symptoms between the two, it can be confusing to determine which one is making you feel sick.
“You can’t tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by looking at the symptoms alone,” says Dr. Suzanne Nadra Nouri Havican of ThedaCare Physicians-New London. “This is why testing is needed to tell which illness you have and to confirm the proper diagnosis, needed treatment, and protective practices indicated. Testing also is important because it can reveal if you have both flu and COVID-19 at the same time.”
Shared Symptoms
Symptoms shared by COVID-19 and the flu include:
- Fever/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Change in or loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19
Exposure and Spread of Infection
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one difference between COVID-19 and the flu is people with flu typically experience symptoms between one and four days after infection. With COVID-19, people usually develop symptoms between two and 14 days after infection.
With both COVID-19 and flu, it’s possible to spread the virus for at least one day before experiencing symptoms. People with COVID-19 remain contagious for a longer time period.
Both COVID-19 and flu can spread from person to person between those in close contact with each other (within about 6 feet). Both are spread when people with the illness cough, sneeze, or talk.
COVID-19 and flu are spread mostly through inhalation. It also may be possible to get infected by touching another person, surface, or object that has virus on it, and then touching your own mouth, nose or eyes, the CDC states.
COVID-19 generally is more contagious than flu viruses and has been linked to more “super-spreader events” than flu. That means it can spread quickly and easily to many people, the CDC states.
Risks and Complications
Many people will recover from COVID-19 or the flu on their own. However, both COVID-19 and flu can lead to severe illness and complications. The include pneumonia; respiratory failure; heart problems; inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle tissues; and other infections.
COVID-19 complications can include blood clots in the arteries of the lungs, heart, legs, or brain. It also can lead to Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, which can affect children or adults.
In addition, people can develop post-COVID-19 syndrome, often called “long COVID,” even if they became only mildly ill or had no symptoms. Long COVID may bring a range of symptoms that can last for weeks, months, or years after first being infected. It can appear as early as weeks after infection. Dr. Havican says she has treated patients for long COVID, and it can be a difficult journey back to your baseline health.
‘A Good Offense’
“In this case the best defense is a good offense, and the best offense is to get vaccinated and boosted,” Dr. Havican says. “Vaccination doesn’t prevent all infections, but it can reduce the severity of illness and decrease chances of complications. As a bonus, vaccinations protect your loved ones by helping to stop the spread of illness.”
Getting vaccinated also protects you from spreading the virus when you might not even know you have it, Dr. Havican adds. Not everyone who’s infected shows symptoms.
Many people who develop symptoms now do COVID-19 home tests. The tests are widely available and sometimes reimbursable through insurance companies. You can also use the COVID-19 Symptom Checker on MyThedaCare for guidance on testing and care.
When to Seek Care
If you test positive for COVID-19, follow the CDC guidelines for isolation. The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
“It’s important for you to monitor and treat your symptoms at home and to follow isolation guidelines if you have flu or COVID-19,” Dr. Havican says. “If you’re experiencing severe symptoms, please seek care for your health and the health of others.”
ThedaCare offers both in-person and virtual care for those experiencing COVID-19 and flu symptoms. You can make an appointment with your provider, visit an urgent care or walk-in care site, or receive care through a video visit or eVisit.
