With the arrival of winter, the flu epidemic returned to France. In parallel, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate. If Covid-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses, the symptoms indicative of these respiratory diseases are still very similar.
Bedridden with fever at age 40, chills, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, great fatigue or muscle aches … The two diseases are so similar in their manifestations (which can range from asymptomatic to very severe signs) that it is very difficult to distinguish them. In fact, only the change or loss of taste or smell, more common in Covid-19, can help to see things more clearly (although this specific sign has progressively diminished over the course of the variants).
What differences?
While Covid-19 has been slowly revealing itself for nearly three years, it still holds its share of mysteries. At the moment, scientists agree that it spreads more easily than the flu. Compared to the latter, Covid can be more serious in some people and persist longer.
Also, if you develop Covid-19, it may take longer from the time of infection to the onset of the first symptoms. And this with respect to the flu. But, let’s be honest, this is not sufficiently convincing evidence to make the difference between the two pathologies.
Only the test will tell you
Given all these similarities, only specific tests can confirm a diagnosis “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta in the United States explains. If those used for Covid are now well known, know that there are also rapid diagnostic tests for the flu.
