Based on the recent coronavirus statistics, there are already about 3,138,989 total cases and total deaths of 218,013 around the world. Among all the countries affected by the virus, the USA is the one that presently has the highest number of infected individuals and the death rate. The country currently has a total number of 1,035,765 cases and 59,266 deaths as of writing.
Experts say common symptoms experienced by those who tested positive were fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some people, however, can experience other symptoms such as nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing, aches, and pains, sore throat, runny nose, and diarrhea, as explained by the World Health Organization.
Most people often associate these symptoms with that of common flu. But how can you differentiate the two? What are their similarities?
SIMILARITIES
The Manner Of Infection
Both flu viruses and the coronavirus are contagious and can transfer from one person to another. These viruses can also be transmitted through direct and indirect contact. That is either being in contact with a person carrying the virus or by being exposed to contaminated objects and surfaces.
Symptoms
Both of the viruses typically target the person's respiratory system. Common flu's typical symptoms include sore throat, cough, fever, headaches, stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and on several occasions, diarrhea, and vomiting.
DIFFERENCES
Severity
The main difference between the two is how severe it can impact a person's body. With common flu, experts say that though it has almost the same symptoms as the coronavirus, the symptoms tend to be more moderate. Among all the cases recorded in the US, only about 1% of them are required to seek serious medical help. Most of the common flu cases that have been recorded recovered in less than 2 weeks.
With COVID, however, doctors are still unsure of how extreme it could affect people. Some new cases link the coronavirus to rashes in kids and infants. Other adults can experience loss of smell and taste, dry cough, abdominal pain, and headache. In worst-case scenarios, patients could also suffer from multiple organ failure, septic shock, and respiratory failure.
Death rate
Experts are still unsure when it comes to the current coronavirus death rate as the rate in every country differs depending on the location, age, and health situation of an individual. But though that's the case, statistics show it has already surpassed that of the common flu, which is only about 0.1%, according to The New York Times.
