The common cold vs flu vs COVID-19
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By Teresa Bigham/The Hesperian-Beacon—
FLOYD COUNTY – As the number of confirmed positive cases of the coronavirus continues to rise globally, people are finding themselves nervous and confused.
Many people remain confused about the exact symptoms of the coronavirus, because they have been told to look for cold or flu like symptoms. What exactly does that mean?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these are the symptoms for the common cold, flu and coronavirus.
The common cold:
Sneezing
Cough
Stuffy nose
Sore throat
Symptoms of a cold usually peak anywhere from two to three days after you contract it.
The flu
Fever
Aches
Chilis
Fatigue
Sneezing
Cough
Headache
Vomiting and diarrhea
The flu typically last five to seven days, although lingering fatigue may last several weeks.
The coronavirus
Fever
Cough
Loss of taste or smell
Shortness of breath
Symptoms of the coronavirus tend to show up anywhere from two to 14 days after a person has been exposed. People tend to get better on their own in 10 to 14 days.
There are several similarities, but most significant difference is the respiratory aspect. This is a very serious concern, but don’t panic.
If you are showing all the signs – fever, cough and especially the respiratory problems – call your doctor and let them know all your specific symptoms. Your doctor will give you exact instructions on what do. Calling ahead will allow the hospital or clinic a chance to prepare for your arrival.
The World Health Organization reports data shows that most people who contract the virus experiences mild symptoms and make a full recovery. However, this is a very serious virus and needs to be taken as such.
Research from the CDC shows the coronavirus is deadlier than the seasonal flu in the USA. While about 0.1% of people who get the flu die, the coronavirus’ global death rate is about 4.7% based on the current numbers and cases. The death rate of the coronavirus fluctuates constantly and varies by country.
The flu’s death rate varies depending on the strains circulating each year, according to the World Health Organization. The flu virus also mutates rapidly, so people can get infected by different strains, which is why the vaccine isn’t 100% effective.
In the United States, the coronavirus has infected more than 153,000 people since the first case was reported on Jan. 22.
The CDC recommends following these steps every time you wash up:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well under clean water
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
It is also very important to practice social distancing.
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