Common cold, flu, or coronavirus?

  In the early days of the outbreak, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was repeatedly compared to the flu (influenza) and even to the common cold (rhinoviruses, et al). This was due to an initial impression of shared symptoms. The differences between these conditions are particularly important as we kick off National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) and the ‘flu season’. So, how can we tell which of these diseases we are dealing with in a given patient?     Common cold Let’s start with the common cold, a condition that can be caused by over 200 different strains of viruses.  On average, an adult will contract a cold two to three times yearly – making the total number of cases incalculable. Symptoms are almost always mild and may include a runny nose, fatigue, chills, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and a headache.  Children – but not adults – often experience a low-grade fever. Most cases clear without medication in less than one week, although the cough can persist for up to 18 days. Bottom line: symptoms are mild.  Your normal activity may diminish, and you might even spend a few days in bed, but you should not feel short of breath or unable to complete basic tasks.   Influenza (flu) Influenza (flu) was once one of the most feared diseases, worldwide – and was responsible for the largest and most deadly outbreak in the 20th century (the ‘Spanish flu’),  In more recent years, the disease is largely manageable, than...
Source: GIDEON blog - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Diagnosis Identify News Source Type: blogs