How to distinguish coronavirus from colds, flu and SARS

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 00:05

In medicine, there are several well-known types of colds - acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, flu. Due to the emergence of a new virus, it is important for everyone to know how to distinguish coronavirus from the common cold. Experts are conducting serious research, explaining how the COVID-19 virus differs from other similar infections.

Coronavirus traits

The new virus has added "diversity" to a range of acute inflammatory diseases. The symptoms of all infections of this kind are similar, differing only in the severity of the course of the disease.

Research results provide insight into how to distinguish coronavirus from the common cold. Coronavirus infection differs in symptoms, certain effects on the human body. Yes, there are enough similarities in such diseases, but there are those that clearly indicate the penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the body.

The main signs of COVID-19 infection are:

1. Heat.
2. Dry cough.
3. Feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath.
4. A sharp deterioration in health, general weakness, thirst, lack of appetite.

When studying a new virus, scientists first of all take into account the clinical picture of the course of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. WHO and experts from the Center for Disease Research have systematized the signs of coronavirus disease, colds, flu. The differences between them are presented in the table below.

Symptoms	COVID-19	Cold	Flu
Heat	Often, up to 38-40 ° С	Rarely, up to 37, 5-38, 7 ° С	Often, up to 38-39 ° С
Dry cough	Often	Moderately	Often
Difficulty breathing	Often	No	No
Headache	Sometimes	Rarely	Often
Muscle pain	Sometimes	Often	Often
Sore throat	Sometimes	Often	Often
General weakness, fatigue	Sometimes	Sometimes	Often
Diarrhea	Rarely	No	Sometimes in children
Runny nose	Rarely	Often	Sometimes
Sneezing	No	Often	No
The gore in the eyes	Often	Rarely	Often
Blanching of the skin	Is always	Rarely	Often
Incubation period	1-14 days	1-5 days	1-2 days

The table is compiled on the basis of comparative diagnostics carried out by specialists from WHO, CDC, Amerikan College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Buisness Insider. The presented data will make it possible with a high degree of probability to determine which of the diseases in humans begins, how to distinguish coronavirus from the common cold, coronavirus from influenza.

The difference between COVID-19 disease and colds

Some symptoms of influenza and coronavirus infection are common, but there is practically no runny nose when SARS-CoV-2 is affected. Do not manifest with COVID-19 flatulence, sneezing, bowel upset.

A common cold is characterized by the presence of a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, joint pain. They, as a rule, are not accompanied by fever, cough. Coronavirus differs from ARVI with such symptoms.

With the flu caused by any strains, there is always a high fever, dry cough, pain in the joints, head, and severe weakness. Sometimes severe flu is accompanied by a runny nose, which is uncommon for COVID-19.

The symptoms of all colds, including coronavirus, are especially similar in the early stages of the disease, in its latent course, in a mild form. The further course of the disease with coronavirus infection is accompanied by an increase in temperature to critical values, a sharp dry cough is added.

Severe forms of the course of COVID-19 lead to the fact that the infection penetrates into the lower respiratory tract, the disease becomes similar to SARS.

Symptoms are added:

• temperature rise to 39 ° С;
• dry hacking cough;
• shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
• oppression, pain in the thoracic region.

When a person who thinks they have a cold develops these symptoms, they should immediately call a doctor at home. It is not a fact that the coronavirus will be diagnosed. Maybe it will be a lingering form of ARVI with a bacterial complication.

Therefore, it is important not to miss the moment of transition of a cold to a severe form, to urgently start targeted treatment. Qualified advice about therapy can only be given by a local therapist who has known a person for a long time, and will take into account his existing somatic pathologies when choosing appointments.

The doctor, according to the visible symptoms, will clarify the type of cold, explain to the patient how the coronavirus differs from the flu. A doctor's consultation will allow the patient to calm down that he has a cold, and not the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Coronavirus differs from influenza:

• manifestation of fever, chills;
• the appearance of a hacking dry cough with shortness of breath;
• a general deterioration in well-being to an extreme degree of fatigue.

The incubation period for coronavirus infection is from 2 days to 2 weeks. At this time, a person does not feel the manifestations of a cold, he becomes an active carrier of infection.

Influenza literally "knocks down" a sick person from 1-2 days from the moment of infection. Symptoms similar to COVID-19 (fever, cough, exhaustion, headache) should not alert a person. It is more important to undergo an examination as soon as possible, to start symptomatic treatment.

Knowing the difference between coronavirus and SARS is important in order not to miss the onset of the disease. These pathologies are transmitted by contact and respiratory routes.

The key point of pathogens is that coronavirus disease is triggered by the penetration of a mutated RNA-containing virus into the body. SARS cause more than 3 hundred types of infection - the most common are rhinovirus, adenovirus, reovirus.

The source of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is almost always an infected person. Viruses spread by breathing, especially actively - from sneezing, coughing, and talking at close range. Getting on the mucous membranes, in the respiratory tract of a healthy person, viruses quickly penetrate into their lower sections, actively multiply.

Another method of transmission is contact. When sneezing, coughing, a sick person covers his face with his palms. At the same time, it is important to already have a supply of disposable paper napkins and change them each time.

Interesting! How to make a hand sanitizer

To prevent the virus from settling on the skin, you should often wash your hands with soap and disinfectants. Otherwise, a tenacious coronavirus passes to a healthy person during a handshake, when using common household items.

At the end of the incubation period, the symptoms of all colds begin to increase at different rates. With ARVI - gradually, with flu and COVID-19 - at a rapid pace.

The duration of the incubation period for each person carrying the virus is different. It depends on the strength of the immune system, the availability of vaccinations.

During the incubation period, the virus lurked in the body, then, against the background of stress, hypothermia, and other factors, it begins to rapidly perform its destructive function. During the latent course, the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be determined using special diagnostic equipment.

Summarize

1. The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body can be found out during the incubation period if the clinic has special equipment and the laboratory is equipped with sufficient tests.
2. The difference between the course of a cold, flu and coronavirus infection can be determined by the severe symptoms. At the initial stage of the disease, the virus manifests itself weakly, but when it "takes root" in the body, finds vulnerabilities, its symptoms appear sharply.
3. Knowing for yourself the differences between colds, ARVI is important in order not to panic and purposefully treat the incipient disease.