Page 13 - FDLP

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 11 March 2020
Flu and coronavirus: Similar symptoms, different fears

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
AP Chief Medical Writer
Is it the flu, a cold or the
new coronavirus? Patients
and doctors alike are pars-
ing signs of illness to figure
out who needs what tests
or care and how worried
they should be.
"You have three differ-
ent major viruses floating
around at the same time,"
causing somewhat similar
symptoms — but different
levels of concern, said Dr.
Gary LeRoy, president of
the American Academy of
Family Physicians.
So what's the biggest dan-
ger? And why are we re-
sponding to them so differ-
ently?
FAMILIAR FOE
COVID-19, the disease
caused by the new corona-
virus, is a flu-like illness that In this Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 file photo, a 73-year-old man places a cold compress on his forehead while battling the flu at a hospital
has killed a small fraction in Georgia.
of the number of people Associated Press
that the flu kills every year. are developed. ter about two weeks. extreme exhaustion, mus- Fever, cough and notice-
Through the first four months HOW DEADLY ARE THE VI- SO WHAT DO I HAVE? cle or body aches, a dry able shortness of breath
of the outbreak, coronavi- RUSES? Flu, cold and coronavirus cough and chills. -- "if you have those three
rus has killed about 4,300 Flu kills about 0.1% of those often share certain symp- "It really hits you like a bus," components, especially if
people. Flu kills 290,000 to it infects, but that's still hun- toms, but differences in and people may start a it's associated with some
650,000 every year around dreds of thousands of peo- intensity and how they ap- day well but feel terrible by recent travel or someone
the world, according to the ple each year because it pear afternoon, LeRoy said. you know who's been ex-
World Health Organization. infects millions. can offer clues to which Flu symptoms can include posed to COVID-19, those
To some, that comparison Researchers are still try- one is causing the misery. a runny or stuffy nose, things should prompt you
seems comforting because ing to understand just how Doctors can test for the headaches and possi- to call for medical atten-
flu is such a familiar foe. deadly the new corona- flu and get results within a bly vomiting or diarrhea, tion," LeRoy said.
President Donald Trump virus is. The mortality rate day, but coronavirus test- though the latter two are "Mildly ill patients should
regularly brings it up, noting from infection with the ing is still limited by avail- more common in children be encouraged to stay
in a tweet how many more virus isn't known yet be- ability in the United States. than adults, the U.S. Cen- home," the CDC's Dr. Sue
Americans die from flu and cause the cases caught Colds are often suspected ters for Disease Control and Gerber told doctors on a
adding, "Nothing is shut in an early part of an out- because adults get about Prevention says. conference call last week.
down, life & the economy break are often the most two on average each Symptoms of COVID-19 People having difficulty
go on ... Think about that!" severe, people with mild year, said LeRoy, a family may appear more slowly. breathing should seek
But to public health ex- or no symptoms aren't be- medicine doctor and asso- They usually include fever, care, and older people or
perts, the huge number of ing tested, and sometimes ciate dean at Wright State a dry cough and notice- those with other conditions
flu deaths is exactly why overwhelmed hospitals University in Dayton, Ohio. able shortness of breath, should contact their doc-
extraordinary steps should struggle to care for the sick- "The common cold just starts according to the World tors early in the course of
be taken to try to prevent est patients. Various reports out with a sore or scratchy Health Organization. A mi- illness, she said.
the new coronavirus from have estimated the fatality throat, cough, runny nose, nority of cases develop PREVENTION
spreading widely. rate from less than 1% to as stuffy nose" and any fever is pneumonia, and the dis- To protect yourself, wash
The flu's annual return can't high as 4% among cases di- usually mild, he said. ease is especially worri- your hands well and often,
be stopped because it's agnosed so far, depending Flu symptoms are more in- some for the elderly and keep them away from your
already so embedded in on location. tense and usually come on those with other medical face, and avoid crowds
the population. There is still Most people infected by suddenly, the Yale New Ha- problems such as high and standing close to peo-
a chance COVID-19 cases the new coronavirus de- ven Health System advises. blood pressure, obesity, di- ple.
can be limited or spread velop mild or moderate They can include a high abetes or heart conditions. There's one big difference
slowed while treatments symptoms and recover af- fever (over 100.5 degrees), One study of hospitalized between flu and coronavi-
patients in China found rus: A vaccine exists to help
that about half did not prevent the flu and it's not
have a fever when they too late to get it. It won't
were admitted but nearly protect you from catching
all developed one. the coronavirus, but may
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE SICK put you in a better position
Don't go straight to your to fight it.
doctor's office -- that just "You don't want to have a
risks making more people compromised immune sys-
sick, officials urge. Call tem if you were to encoun-
ahead, and ask if you need ter coronavirus," LeRoy
to be seen and where. said.q