The main difference between coronavirus and influenza and SARS is the incubation period (the time from infection to the first signs). Respiratory viruses and influenza make themselves felt already on 1-4 days. On average, their incubation period is 2-3 days.
The coronavirus takes longer to multiply in the body. Its incubation period can reach up to 14 days. Pronounced symptoms in most patients are noticeable as early as day 5, but may appear much later.
The difference between colds and coronavirus in mild form is insignificant:
- Temperature rise: with COVID-19, the thermometer rises from 37.3 and above. The flu is accompanied by a temperature of 38 degrees. It rises suddenly, and the patient cannot determine exactly when the fever has set in. With ARVI, an elevated temperature is practically not found;
- Cough in children and adults: coronavirus infection is always accompanied by a dry, debilitating cough, as the infection affects the respiratory organs. The flu is also accompanied by a cough, and ARVI most often causes not a dry cough, but a cough with sputum;
- The decline in strength is observed in all viral diseases. However, with ARVI, weakness is not always noted by a person, but all are characterized by aching muscles and joints;
- With coronavirus, signs of rhinitis are rarely observed. Mostly there is nasal congestion in the bridge of the nose and loss of smell. Flu and respiratory infections often provoke mucous discharge from the nasal passages. At first they are transparent, and later-yellowish-green;
- Headache with covid is sometimes present. Some patients note that the head hurts very much, as with the flu. With ARVI, complaints about this symptom are rarely received;
- The throat with coronavirus and flu does not hurt much. There is only a tickling, but ARVI is regularly accompanied by soreness, redness, swelling of the tissues;
- Patients with influenza and covid do not always face diarrhea. With ARVI, there may be a disorder of the stool, but this symptom is rare, often in children.
Symptoms of coronavirus
The main signs of coronavirus, which are most often observed in seriously ill people — are dry cough and chest pain. The cough can be prolonged, lasting for an hour or more. At the same time, each new attack is felt more strongly than the previous one.
On day 5-7, there is another alarming symptom — shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. On the 8th day and later, with a particularly complex form of the disease, fluid can accumulate in the lungs, which leads to respiratory disorders. Such patients are connected to a ventilator to provide artificial ventilation of the lungs.
The main symptoms peculiar exclusively to the coronavirus:
- prolonged cough;
- the increase in body temperature;
- soreness in the muscles and joints;
- sore throat;
- difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, feeling of congestion in the chest area;
- diarrhea, nausea;
- loss of sense of smell and taste, however, and with a normal runny nose, a person may experience such changes;
- a rash on the skin of the toes, similar to smallpox or urticaria, is more common in children.
The main difference from colds and acute respiratory infections in coronavirus is the absence of sneezing, runny nose, flatulence, and severe digestive disorders. The patient’s skin pales, the throat may ache, the chest may be blocked.
Antibiotics: COVID-19 from SARS
The difference between ARVI and coronavirus and influenza is a low temperature, a plentiful runny nose, lacrimation, and sneezing. The disease develops within 2-3 days after infection. In this case, it is quite appropriate to use antibiotics, which can be practically useless in the case of coronavirus. The flu and the common cold is a completely different story.
Follow all preventive measures, lead a healthy lifestyle, you will protect yourself and your loved ones from viral infections!