Question asked by Ben on 02/24/2020
Hello,
Among your many questions about Covid-19, you asked us about the symptoms that distinguish the seasonal flu virus. The answer is simple, they are the same. Here’s what the World Health Organization (WHO) says on their site about the new coronavirus: “Symptoms are dependent on the virus, but the most common include respiratory problems, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. “
About the seasonal flu, the same site writes: “The symptoms are sudden onset fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, throat irritation and rhinorrhea. The cough can be severe and last for 2 weeks or more ”.
If we just look at the symptoms, “There is no way to tell the difference” between the new coronavirus and the seasonal flu, explains to CheckNews Bruno Lina, virologist and researcher at the International Center for Research in Infectiology (CIRI). This is the context which will help the doctors to guide the patient: if he has not gone to a risk zone, has not come into contact with a person on his return, the chances are high that he will is a simple flu or flu syndrome. In any case, biological samples must be taken to confirm the nature of the virus.
How does the care of people with symptoms actually go? Several recommendations were sent to caregivers. The operational coordination of epidemiological and biological risk has posted a sheet for “Identify and manage a suspect Covid-19 patient”. If the patient has the “clinical picture” of a Covid-19 infection (fever greater than or equal to 38 ° and / or clinical signs of acute respiratory infection or other atypical signs), and has been exposed (stay in China, return from another area with probable transmission of the virus, close contact or co-exposure with a confirmed case or possible case, etc.), it must be examined by a referent infectiologist and the Regional Health Agency (ARS) must be alerted . If the expert judges that the patient’s situation corresponds to the case definition of Public Health France, then it becomes a possible case. A biological sample is then taken to confirm, or not, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (the name of the virus, while Covid-19 is the name of the disease) in the patient.
cordially
Pauline Moullot
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