The symptoms of influenza and Covid-19 are very similar. But an American study was able to show that the first signs of one pathology were distinguished to another. Handy in times of seasonal flu?
The order of the symptoms would be important. At least this is what an American study published in Science Daily.
In fact, researchers at the University of Southern California think they’ve found the likely order in which Covid’s symptoms first appear.
A defined sequence
By studying and analyzing data from 55,924 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in China, all collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) between February 16 and 24, as well as 1,100 cases collected between December 11, 2019 and January 29, compiled by the China Medical Treatment Expert Group, through the National Health Commission of China, came to the conclusion that the former is OK fever, followed by cough, muscle pain, then nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
Knowing the sequence of symptoms has several aspects: it is possible help patients To do heal faster, help doctors rule out other diseases and even plan how to treat patients and maybe intervene earlier in the event of the disease.
“This sequence is especially important to know in times of seasonal illnesses such as influenza that coincide with coronavirus infections,” explains medicine professor Peter Kuhn who contributed to the publication.
“And it could even shorten hospital admission time, given the faster identification,” said Joseph Larsen, lead author of the study.
Covid fever, flu cough
To compare the order of the coronavirus symptoms to that of the flu, the researchers looked at data from 2,470 cases of flu in North America, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, reported to health authorities in 1994. until 1998.
According to her investigators the order for the coronavirus is fever, then cough, followed by muscle pain, nausea and / or vomiting, then diarrhea.
For the flu, it is first of all about cough, then fever.
Also read: Covid-19, flu or a simple cold, how can you distinguish them? List of symptoms
The pathology occurs gradually or appears suddenly?
The Institut Pasteur emphasizes that the symptoms of the coronavirus appear gradually over several days, unlike the flu that starts suddenly “.
Barrier gestures to avoid everything
Remember, barrier gestures are always helpful, and even more so during times of the flu. They avoid the capture or transmission of seasonal pathologies and protect against the coronavirus.
Doctors also encourage people to get the flu shot to make diagnosis easier.
The French government also listed Covid’s symptoms, specifying that it was primarily a fever or the feeling of fever (chills, hot cold), cough, headache, body aches and unusual fatigue.
But also a sudden loss of smell (without nasal congestion), a total loss of taste or even diarrhea. And in more serious forms: breathing difficulties that can lead to hospitalization in intensive care or even death.
Covid, flu, cold: the list of symptoms compiled by the UK health service
The list of symptoms to distinguish Covid, flu and cold was compiled a few months ago by the National Health Service, the British health service.
For the Covid-19
The most common symptoms of coronavirus or Covid-19 are
– Fever (from 37.8 ° C).
– A persistent cough (usually dry).
Loss of taste and / or smell.
Patients may also sometimes experience fatigue, body aches, sore throats, headaches and shortness of breath.
Diarrhea and a runny or stuffy nose are rare.
For the flu
The most common symptoms of the flu are:
– Fever (from 37.8 ° C).
– A dry cough.
– Significant fatigue.
– Pain in the body.
– headache.
People sometimes have a runny or stuffy nose or sore throat.
Diarrhea sometimes occurs in children.
There is no sneezing or shortness of breath with the flu.
For a cold
The most common cold symptoms are:
– To sneeze.
– A runny or stuffy nose.
– Sore throat.
– Pain in the body.
You may feel a mild cough. Sometimes there is fatigue and it is rare that you have a fever or headache. Colds don’t cause diarrhea.
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