Flu and COVID-19 can look the same

CDC

Influenza (the flu) and COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus discovered in 2019, are both contagious respiratory illnesses, meaning they affect people’s lungs and breathing, and can be spread to others. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses.

Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins, explains how the flu and COVID-19 are similar and how they are different.

Similarities: COVID-19 and the Flu

• Symptoms:

Both illnesses can cause fever, cough, body aches, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (especially in children). Both can result in pneumonia, and both can be mild or severe, or even fatal in rare cases.

How It Spreads

Both the flu and COVID-19 spread in similar ways. Droplets or smaller virus particles from a sick person can transmit the virus to other people nearby. The smallest particles may linger in the air, and another person can inhale them and become infected.

Or, people can touch a surface with viruses on it, and then transfer the germs to themselves by touching their face.

People infected with the coronavirus or the flu may not realize they are sick for several days, and during that time, they can unknowingly spread the disease to others before they even feel sick.

Treatment

Neither the flu nor COVID-19 is treatable with antibiotics, which only work on bacterial infections.

Both are treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever.

Severe cases may require hospitalization, and very ill patients may need a ventilator, a machine that helps them breathe.

Antiviral medications may shorten the duration of both illnesses.

Prevention

Both can be prevented by wearing a mask, frequent and thorough hand washing, coughing into the crook of your elbow, staying home when sick, and limiting contact with people who are infected.

Physical distancing limits the spread of COVID-19 in communities.