How to prevent the "peak flu season" after winter? Doctors reveal "key differences" between colds, flu and COVID-19
Winter will usher in the “peak flu season”! Understand the differences between colds, flu, and COVID-19 at once
After winter, Taiwan enters the peak flu season. What are the main differences in symptoms between colds, flu, and COVID-19? Could it be more dangerous to have the flu and be diagnosed with it? The three are explained in order as follows:
1. **Common cold (caused by rhinovirus, adenovirus and other pathogens)
Cold symptoms are usually mild. They often include a scratchy throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. If there is a fever, it is usually not high and should come down quickly after taking the medication. However, some cold patients will still experience some fatigue and changes in appetite, but these are usually mild. There is no test or special treatment for the common cold. It just requires more rest or taking some medicine during the period of symptoms, and it will slowly heal.
2. **Influenza (caused by influenza A and influenza B viruses)
The symptoms of influenza vary in severity. Although they can be mild, people who suffer from influenza are usually less likely to have symptoms than when they have a cold. It feels worse. They may develop a sudden fever with chills, headache, and body aches. They may have a sore throat, runny nose and cough. Because of pain and fatigue and general malaise, and not having much appetite. Some children may even experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Doctors can check if someone has the flu by testing for the flu virus. Most people with the flu get better with plenty of fluids, rest, and comfort at home. For patients with severe symptoms, doctors can prescribe antiviral drugs such as anti-flu drugs to relieve symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Some people become so ill that they require hospitalization. However, many cases of the flu can be prevented and less severe by getting the annual flu vaccine.
3. **COVID-19 (caused by coronavirus)
People infected with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, just like a common cold. But some people may have more severe upper or even lower respiratory symptoms. Therefore, symptoms of COVID-19 may look a lot like symptoms of a cold or flu. But they can also look different. For example, COVID-19 may include loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing, or various skin rashes. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are more likely to occur. In particular, children sometimes develop symptoms weeks after being infected with the coronavirus as part of a condition called multisystem inflammatory disease in children (MIS-C). Testing methods for COVID-19 include rapid screening, PCR testing, and blood tests that look for antibodies to check whether you have been infected with the virus in the past.
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Another interesting question is, what happens if you get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?
There isn’t a lot of data yet to determine what happens when people are infected with influenza and SARS-CoV-2 at the same time. But according to some existing scientific journal data, people who get both the flu and a cold tend to have more severe illness than those who get only one virus. And the same is true when influenza and COVID-19 combine. Typical symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue and cough, may become more intense.
In a 2021 study on COVID-19 co-infections, patients who tested positive for both influenza and COVID-19 had higher rates of hospitalization and death than patients infected with only COVID-19. Another British study analyzed the health records of more than 212,000 people in the UK who were admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and who were also tested for other infections. Compared with people newly infected with COVID-19, people infected with influenza and SARS-CoV-2 are four times more likely to require mechanical ventilation and twice as likely to die. We can conclude that co-infection with influenza and SARS-CoV-2 increases the risk of needing ventilators, intensive care, and death.
Another concern is that both influenza and COVID-19 put people at higher risk for other infections, especially pneumonia. Infection with both viruses at the same time or in rapid succession may also make people more susceptible to other infections.
While there are treatments for both the flu and COVID-19, there is no strong data to guarantee doctors and patients that combining them is safe or effective. The antiviral drugs Tamiflu (Tamiflu) to treat influenza and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) or Lagevrio (molnupiravir) to treat SARS-CoV-2 can minimize the severity of symptoms of both diseases, but only if Take as soon as infection begins. This can be challenging for patients and doctors, and missing the optimal treatment window may prevent drugs from controlling the severity of the viral infection well.
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Are influenza and COVID-19 transmitted in the same way? What leisure activities are best avoided during peak flu season to reduce infection? Basically, the infection routes of influenza and COVID-19 are basically very similar. The virus is mainly carried by the patient’s droplets, which directly or indirectly infects the next host. When people infected with COVID-19 breathe, speak, sing, exercise, cough or sneeze, they will release droplet particles of varying sizes containing the virus, which may stay on the ground or on surfaces, allowing the virus to be transmitted through inhalation, direct or indirect contact spread via channels.
Influenza mainly spreads the virus to people around them through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing of flu-infected patients, especially in confined spaces where the air is not circulated, making it easier for the virus to spread. In addition, infection can also be caused by contact with surfaces contaminated by a patient’s mouth droplets or nasal mucus and other secretions, and then touching one’s own mouth, nose or eyes.
As for the choice of leisure activities, it is recommended to try to choose spacious, open or well-ventilated venues to avoid staying in airtight places for long periods of time. In addition, when friends or individuals have relevant symptoms, they should directly self-isolate lightly. The first is to avoid being infected with other viruses again when going out, and the second is to worry about infecting others. However, I still hope that everyone can be fully vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 to increase group protection, reduce the possibility of serious illness, and be relatively free to participate in various leisure activities that you like.
If you are still worried, it is still recommended to wear a mask tightly when going out, wash hands frequently and spray alcohol in time, and avoid going to crowded places.
Taking more vitamins to prevent the flu? Doctor: For “such people”, eating more will have no significant effect!
Can taking more vitamins help increase resistance and reduce the chance of flu? What are the most important things to pay attention to in your diet and life during flu season? Increasing the intake of vitamins can maintain normal physiological functions and partially regulate the body’s immunity. Generally speaking, if you eat a balanced diet, have a normal schedule and get enough exercise and sleep, whether you take extra vitamins or not will not have much impact on your resistance. However, since most people lead stressful lives and do not eat or exercise regularly, it is generally recommended to take an appropriate amount of vitamin B complex as a basic supplement. Another common ingredient is zinc. Scientific journals have pointed out that supplementing zinc for cold or flu patients can reduce symptoms and speed up recovery. In addition, supplementing with zinc for at least 5 months can reduce the risk of catching a cold by 60%.
Recent studies have also pointed out that vitamin D is related to regulating immunity and improving immune cell function. When children are supplemented with vitamin D and then exposed to influenza viruses, the chance of developing respiratory infections is also reduced. The other is elderberry. Preliminary research shows that elderberry extract (containing a variety of anthocyanins and other flavonoids) can inhibit the proliferation of influenza viruses, reduce the duration of illness in influenza patients, and increase the amount of antibodies against the virus.
In addition, here are some foods that are recommended to be eaten less when you have a cold or during cold season:
Caffeine drinks and alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol will aggravate flu symptoms, especially gastrointestinal-related symptoms, and can easily make dehydration more serious. Therefore, you should try to replenish fluids with plain water or diluted electrolyte water.
High-sugar foods and drinks: The large amount of sugar contained in them may increase the burden on the immune system, lead to more severe inflammation, and take longer to recover from the disease.
Greasy and high-protein foods: Greasy and protein-rich foods are difficult to digest. Therefore, flu patients who are weak and have poor digestive function should not eat too much during the course of the disease to avoid overburdening the body. It is recommended to eat porridge, white toast, soda crackers and other easily digestible carbohydrates.
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