Symptoms of COVID-19 and flu: All you need to know

COVID-19 and flu symptoms range from fever to severe complications. Most people recover within a few days, if it is just a fever, but severe complications may require hospitalization.

It is important that you understand the different symptoms of Covid-19 and flu for the right treatment. COVID-19 and flu symptoms vary from mild to severe. According to Dr. Akshay Anant Dhamne, Medicine, Physician Consultant at DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, flu symptoms can appear one to four days after infection. In COVID-19, symptoms might appear two to five days and up to 14 days after infection. Despite being immune-evasive, the novel JN.1 strain has caused minor instances. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, body soreness, and weariness.

Given below are the symptoms of flu and coronavirus:

Fever or chills; sore throat; Cough
Shortness of breath, Tiredness
Stuffy nose
Body pains or muscle pain
Headache
Vomiting

Flu:

For one day before symptoms appear, flu virus carriers are contagious. Symptomatic flu patients are thought to spread the virus.
Flu is most contagious in older children and adults during the first 3-4 days, but some people may be contagious longer.
Infants and immunocompromised persons can remain contagious longer.

COVID-19:

People can transfer COVID-19 2-3 days before symptoms appear, but infectiousness peaks one day before symptoms.
People can transfer COVID-19 without symptoms.
The usual contagious period is eight days after symptoms appear. Some people get sicker with COVID-19. COVID-19 can hospitalize and kill healthy persons. Post-COVID disorders or multisystem inflammatory syndrome can emerge in COVID-19 patients.
Most flu patients recover within a few days to two weeks, but some require hospitalization. A few complications are listed above. Secondary bacterial infections are more common with influenza than COVID-19. Flu-related diarrhea is more prevalent in children than adults.

Conclusion

You must understand the different symptoms of Covid-19 and flu for the right treatment. COVID-19 and flu symptoms can range from mild to severe, with flu symptoms appearing one to four days after infection, while COVID-19 symptoms can appear two to five days and up to 14 days. The novel JN.1 strain has caused minor instances, including fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, body soreness, and weariness.