What are the symptoms for COVID-19, and how are they different from a cold, flu or allergies?
26 June 2020
What are the symptoms for COVID-19, and how are they different from a cold, flu or allergies?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 seem to be dry cough, fever, fatigue and shortness of breath.
Other symptoms reported also include loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, diarrhea, nasal congestion, pneumonia, runny nose and sore throat.
People of all ages who experience fever and/or cough associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure or loss of speech or movement, should seek medical attention immediately if possible.
It's also recommended to call your healthcare provider facility first, so the patient can be directed to the right clinic.
What makes the symptoms of COVID-19 tricky is that these symptoms of cough, ache, fever, fatigue and shortness of breath may seem to be symptoms of a flu, common cold or allergies.
There are slight differences in how a cold, flu or COVID-19 presents itself.
For instance, the common cold rarely has a fever and often presents with mild coughing, sore throat and runny nose or stuffy nose.
The flu on the other hand, commonly presents with fatigue, fever, dry cough, but doesn't present with any shortness of breath.
Allergies can also have some overlapping symptoms with COVID-19. With allergies, harmless bits of dust, pet dander or pollen can trigger our bodies to block out these foreign particles, causing sneezing, stuffy nose, red or irritated and watery eyes and sometimes even fatigue and shortness of breath.
However, symptoms of seasonal allergies do not include fever, sore throat or diarrhea.
It is also very important as we approach the flu season, especially this year, to get the flu shot to protect against the flu.
Getting the flu shot not only makes you more likely to get the flu, but also makes you more susceptible to other infections, such as COVID-19.
Getting the flu shot does not increase your risk of getting the coronavirus.
Source: Shoppers Drug Mart: Covid-19
This news is offered by VALNEVA in collaboration with Conseils Santé Voyage