Is the coronavirus like the flu?

We are going to emphasize the main differences between coronavirus and flu. Both viruses can produce similar symptoms and treatment is symptomatic in both cases. The big difference is that for, while for the coronavirus no.

• Flu: She is a acute infectious disease caused by the call influenza virus (genera A, B and C). Viruses A and B are the most important in humans. Annually they originate epidemics that affect 10-30% of the population global. Its virulence is due to the periodic antigenic variations of the virus (especially influenza A) to which not even the cradle can confer immunity. Outbreaks of influenza A begin abruptly, peaking in 2-3 weeks and lasting approximately 2-3 months. He usually makes his debut among children with a painting of fever and respiratory infectionLater, adults and high-risk patients will be affected. Flu B usually causes fewer outbreaks serious and extensive, while influenza C is the least frequent and produces infections banal as is the common cold. On the other hand, it is common to confuse the flu and the cold, you have their differences.
• Coronavirus: the (covid-19) is a new strain of a common virus among animals that has the ability to be transmitted also to people and that is. The risk of mortality occurs among people at risk, especially among seniors with various pathologies.

How do they spread?

• Flu: I know transmitted through the air (speech, coughing and sneezing). Mainly through droplets from the coughs and sneezes of infected people. It can also be deposited in saliva and hands and requires a close contact with the infected person to catch it. Less commonly, it can be spread through contact with inert surfaces that have been contaminated with respiratory droplets.
• Coronavirus: is transmitted from person to person through droplets from the nose or mouth that are released when an infected person coughs or exhales.

Incubation period

• Flu: the incubation period is 1 to 3 days appearing first symptoms at 48-72 hours and with an approximate duration of one week (if no complications appear). A patient with the flu can transmit the disease from 24 hours before the onset of symptoms to 7 days later. Some people infected with the virus may be asymptomatic, but transmit the disease.
• Coronavirus- Symptoms may appear in as little as 2 days or up to 15 days after infection or exposure. This is based on the research and observations carried out thus far. Its contagiousness depends on the amount of virus contained in the respiratory tract. For there to be contagion between people, it is necessary direct contact with mucous membranes (nose, mouth, eyes) of an infected person or with respiratory secretions from an infected animal.

Are the symptoms the same?

• Flu: fever, cough, sneezing, headache, weakness and muscle aches, Added to this is general discomfort, nasal congestion and a sore throat.
• Coronavirus: fever, cough, and feeling short of breath. They can also be accompanied by digestive symptoms such as diarrhea or abdominal pain and neurological symptoms like confusion and lethargy. Other signs that may manifest are headache, myalgia, and weakness. There may be asymptomatic patients who can also spread the virus to other people.

Symptoms of CoronavirusFlu symptomsFever Fever Coughs Shortness of breath Sneezing Headache Nasal congestion Weakness Sore throat muscle pain Headache Diarrhea or abdominal pain Weakness Confusion or lethargy muscle pain

antibiotics are useless in any way

The recommended treatment in both viruses it is totally symptomatic, that is to say, intended to treat the main symptoms of the patient (antitussive antipyretics, antihistamines) as well as conventional comfort measures (abundant water intake, warm bath, humid environment ...).

• There is no specific treatment for neither virus.
• antibiotics are useless
• antiviral drugs they are usually indicated in severe immunosuppression.

Prevention measures and tips

Prevention measures help reduce exposure to viruses, not just flu or coronavirus:

• Frequent hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or alcoholic solutions), especially after direct contact with sick people or their environment.
• Keep a distance of one meter approximately with people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissues or with the elbow when coughing or sneezing
• The use of a mask is optional and not necessary in the healthy population without risk of exposure. Its main indication is immunocompromised people and inhabitants of risk areas.
• In the specific case of the flu vaccination is important in the cases described as a population at risk. His campaign takes place in the autumn, before the appearance of the first cases of the epidemic. The vaccine can be inactivated virus or attenuated virus but its composition varies annually depending on the circulating viruses, therefore we must be vaccinated annually. Regarding the coronavirus there are two large laboratories that are developing the vaccine.

Government Recommendations

At the present time, the guidelines of the Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus epidemic are aimed at screening among those symptomatic people who have traveled to a area of ​​risk or have been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus infection. There are citizen telephone assistance services for health advice.

People at risk

Both in the coronavirus and in the flu must be controlled especially people considered at risk, such as the elderly, immunosuppressed and with chronic respiratory or heart diseases. The main complication is the. Family Medicine Specialist