Corona virus or flu – what’s the difference? – Health

The form of infectious diseases is similar: Both are respiratory diseases caused by a virus, the course of which can vary widely – from asymptomatic or mild to very severe, sometimes even fatal.

Higher infection rate with coronavirus

Both pathogens are predominantly transmitted via droplets, for example when speaking or coughing, or through direct contact. That is why the same precautions apply to both: good hand hygiene, coughing in the elbows or a handkerchief, avoiding contact with infected people.

According to the WHO, there are differences in the rate of spread: Influenza has a shorter incubation period between infection and the development of the first symptoms, and the infection in the infection chains occurred more quickly. With Covid-19 this interval is about 5 to 6 days, with influenza at 3 days. This means that influenza can spread faster than Covid-19.

This is how the corona virus spreads in Europe.

In addition, influenza often infects other people even before symptoms develop. With Covid-19, transmissions are known 24 to 48 hours before the onset of symptoms, but according to the current state of knowledge, they are rare, unlike flu, and hardly played a role in the spread.

Another important indicator is the infection rate. According to WHO data, the new coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 is passed on from one infected person to an average of two to two and a half other people – and thus to more than with influenza. Because of the uncertain data situation and various effects influencing the value, a comparison in this aspect is only possible to a limited extent, according to the WHO.

Differences in relation to children

There are significant differences with regard to children: “Children are important drivers of the transmission of influenza viruses in the community,” said the WHO. For the Covid 19 pathogen, initial evaluations showed that children are less affected than adults and rarely develop clear symptoms. According to preliminary data, it can also be assumed that children become infected primarily in adults – but adults hardly in children.

According to previous evaluations, there are more severe to life-threatening courses with Covid-19 than with the flu. According to the WHO, the course in 15 percent of those infected is so difficult that an additional supply of oxygen is necessary.

Covid-19: Children not at risk

Artificial ventilation is required in 5 percent of those infected. The death rate is probably higher than with the normal seasonal flu wave – exact details can hardly be given at the moment.

Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases or a weakened immune system are considered to be particularly at risk from influenza in severe cases. At Covid-19, children and pregnant women do not belong to the risk groups according to current knowledge.

Covid-19: Children not at risk

Also note the difference in the options for treatment and preventive care. “While there are a number of clinical drug trials in China and there are more than 20 vaccines against Covid-19 in development, there are no approved vaccines or therapies for Covid-19 yet,” said the WHO. With influenza, however, there are both protective vaccinations and approved antiviral drugs

Only washing hands reliably protects against viral and bacterial diseases. Whether soap or disinfectant: it depends on the right technology.