Difference between Covid and flu symptoms as cases surge across UK
The September sickness has officially arrived - and people are being taken down left, right, and centre by sniffling noses, endless coughing, headaches, and high temperatures.
If you’ve been forced to call in sick to work in the past few weeks, you wouldn’t be the only one, as the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data has highlighted a surge in both the flu and Covid-19 this month.
As reported by The Mirror, in the week of 24 September, hospital admissions with Covid increased from 0.81 per 100,000 people to 1.2 per 100,000 people, which is an almost 50 per cent rise.
However, the UKHSA has reassured that this is actually an expected level for this time of year.
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Meanwhile, Influenza cases also increased, and the illness is currently circulating at baseline levels.
Emergency department attendances for influenza-like-illnessincreased also last week and were above seasonally expected levels.
As outlined by Manchester Evening News, out of those tested via a GP swab, 10.7% tested positive for flu, which is up from 8.3% the previous week.
With both of these seasonal illnesses on the rise, it can be difficult to tell which one you’re actually dealing with, especially since some of the symptoms overlap.
The biggest difference is that a sudden loss of taste or smell is common for Covid-19, but very rare with the flu.
And as per Mayo Clinic, seasonal flu symptoms usually show up quickly, about one to four days after you're around someone who is sick. Covid-19 symptoms, on the other hand, generally appear two to 14 days later.
However, there are also a lot of similarities, such as fever, a dry cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, feeling tired, a sore throat, a headache, a runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.
Symptoms of Covid-19
As per the NHS, the most common symptoms of Covid-19 are:
- A high temperature – you may feel hot, cold or shivery, or your skin is hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
The NHS advises that if you think you have Covid-19, you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:
- Have a high temperature
- Do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities
You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature, and if your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.
Symptoms of flu
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- A sudden high temperature
- An aching body
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- A dry cough
- A sore throat
- A headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also have ear pain, sore eyes, swollen glands, and appear less active.
You can find more information about both Covid-19 and the flu on the NHS website.
Madison Burgess