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Relation between common cold, flu and covid

Introduction

In winters, staying healthy by avoiding viral diseases becomes more important than ever. Especially with the covid-19 still widely spreading, many are wondering how to manage flue, cold along with covid-19. With the pandemic going on, it becomes overwhelming and burdened to worry about such seasonal colds and flues as well.

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Discussing the difference between common cold, flu and covid

  • Covid is more contagious than the common cold and flu
  • Covid spreads more widely than the common cold and flu
  • The recovery period of covid is longer than the common cold and flu
  • In common cold and flu, the loss of taste and smell and other respiratory difficulties is milder than covid
  • The aftermath or side effects of covid can last from a few days to a month as compared to common cold and flu

Similarities and differences between covid and flu

  • Fever or feeling feverish
  • cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Bodyache 
  • Loss of taste and smell
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Severe headache due to nose congestion
  • Feeling tired

Vomiting and diarrhea may occur in some people, but it is more prevalent in children than adults.

Differences between covid and flu

  • In flu, symptoms may appear between 1 to 4 days after the infection, and in covid, the symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after infection
  • Flu is contagious for approximately 1 to 2 days, but covid-19 is contagious for at least 10-11 days or unless tested negative
  • The covid-19 virus spreads to a larger population is much faster than the flu
  • Covid 19 virus is more harmful and infectious than the flu virus

Similarities and differences between cold and flu

  • Fever is rare in cold but mild to high in flu
  • Body aches in cold are mild and moderate to severe in flu
  • Cough is mild in common cold and moderate to severe in flu
  • Headache is unusual in cold and moderate to severe in flu
  • Sneezing is common in cold and mild or occasionally in flu
  • Feeling tired is mild in cold and moderate to severe in flu
  • Vomiting/diarrhea is very rare in the common cold and can occasionally happen in the flu
  • The severity of symptoms is mild in cold and moderate to severe in flu
FAQs

The symptoms of covid have changed in the 3rd wave. There is a partial loss of taste and smell after 7-8 days of being infected, fever with low-grade impact, and cough with phlegm is the common symptoms found in people.

Lungs are the most affected organs in covid 19.

It takes approximately 5-6 days for the symptoms of coronavirus to appear.

Dr. Dr Amit Prakash Singh
Dr Amit Prakash Singh

General Physician


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22+ Years Experience

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