Flu or COVID-19: Know the Differences and When It’s an Emergency

You’re going about your day, and it hits you. Sniffles, headache, fatigue. You’re coming down with something, but you’re unsure what it is. Is it influenza (flu) or COVID-19? Figuring out what illness is causing your symptoms can be tricky, but it’s important to know the differences between the two viruses.

What is the flu? What is COVID-19?

Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. There are two main types of flu viruses: types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people (human influenza viruses) are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. Flu can cause mild to severe illness.

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can be very contagious and can spread quickly. COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill. In contrast, the flu comes on suddenly while COVID-19 symptoms may start out mildly and then progress over the course of a few to several days.

People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Fever or feeling feverish or chills.
• Cough.
• Sore throat.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Muscle or body aches.
• Headaches.
• Fatigue (tiredness).
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe illness and may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Some possible COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Fever or chills.
• Cough.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Sore throat.
• Congestion or runny nose.
• New loss of taste or smell.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle or body aches.
• Headache.
• Nausea or vomiting.

Who is most at risk for the flu and COVID-19?

People age 65 years and older, young children and those with certain health conditions, are at higher risk of serious flu complications. Some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. This includes people who are older, immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system), have certain disabilities or have underlying health conditions.

How Flu and COVID-19 Spreads

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of nearby people. Less often, a person might get the flu by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. Other people can breathe in these droplets and particles, or these droplets and particles can land on others' eyes, nose or mouth. In some circumstances, COVID-19 droplets may contaminate the surfaces they touch. Anyone infected with COVID-19 can spread it, even if they do not have symptoms.

Symptoms Shared by COVID-19 and Flu

Common symptoms shared by COVID-19 and the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/having chills.
• Cough.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Fatigue (tiredness).
• Sore throat.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Muscle pain or body aches.
• Headache.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea (more frequent in children with flu, but can occur in any age with COVID-19).
• Change in or loss of taste or smell, although this is more frequent with COVID-19.

Treatment Differences

If you get sick with flu, influenza antiviral drugs may be a treatment option. Antiviral drugs work best when started early, ideally no later than two days after your flu symptoms begin. Flu antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, an inhaled powder or an intravenous solution) that fight against flu viruses in your body. Antiviral drugs are not sold over the counter. You can only get them if you have a prescription from a health care provider. Unfortunately, there is no cure for influenza. However, antiviral drugs can reduce the duration of the illness by up to two days. These medications also lower the likelihood you’ll suffer severe illness.

Many people with COVID-19 get better with rest, fluids and treatment for their symptoms. Medicine you can get without a prescription can help.

Over-the-counter medications that may help relieve symptoms include:

• Fever reducers.
• Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
• Cough syrup or medicine.

A person at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness may be offered medicine to prevent mild illness from getting worse.

Test, Don’t Guess

You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by the symptoms alone because they have so many similarities. Getting tested to confirm which virus you’re dealing makes managing symptoms more effective.

You can go to urgent care to request a test for COVID-19 or the flu. Some nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), including PCR tests, can differentiate between flu and COVID-19 at the same time. If one of these tests is not available, many testing locations provide flu and COVID-19 tests separately.

Getting treated early for COVID-19 and flu can reduce your risk of getting very sick. Testing can also reveal if someone has both flu and COVID-19 at the same time, although this is uncommon. People with flu and COVID-19 at the same time can have more severe symptoms than people with either flu or COVID-19 alone. Additionally, some people with COVID-19 may also be affected by post-COVID conditions (also known as long COVID).

When To Go to the Emergency Room

Most people can recover at home without medical treatment. However, you need to go to the emergency room if:

• You have trouble breathing.
• You notice pressure or pain in the abdomen or chest.
• You feel dizzy or confused.
• You cannot stop vomiting.
• You have persistent chest pressure or chest pain.
• You improve and get worse again.

You should consult your doctor if you’re in a high-risk group for severe illness. High-risk groups include:

• Children four and under.
• Adults 65 and over.
• Pregnant women.
• People with diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other chronic conditions.

Get the Care You Need at ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care provides patients with quality care and services. Staff are ER-trained to determine patient conditions, and patients only pay for the level of service they receive - either ER or urgent care. The emergency department is open 24/7 and the urgent care clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. You don't need an appointment. All walk-ins are welcome.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care is located at 1075 Medical Center Parkway, Maumee, Ohio 43537.