Heading into the winter months this season could be a challenge for everyone. With two serious, highly contagious respiratory illnesses in the community, the flu, and Covid-19, staying healthy and strengthening our immune system will be important for maintaining our health. Many health experts are saying that a “twindemic” is certainly a possibility and people should be planning to do all that they can to avoid getting sick with either illness.
Is it the Flu or Covid-19?
This is a question that many people, including clinicians, will be asking this winter when a person presents with cold and flu symptoms. With both the flu and Covid-19 having similar symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and shortness of breath, it may be difficult to determine which respiratory illness the someone has. There are symptoms that are only seen in people with Covid-19 such as, loss of taste and smell and low oxygen levels. However, the definitive way to tell one disease from the other is diagnostic testing.
Symptoms and Testing
For both diseases a rapid test, using a nasal sample can be done with results ready in as little as 15 minutes. Although these rapid tests are good screening tests, for Covid-19 a more definitive deep nasal and throat swab can be done, which takes between 24-48 hours for results to be available. In many cases, a person’s clinical presentation plus their recent exposure history can help determine whether it is the flu or Covid-19. For example, if someone is symptomatic with upper respiratory symptoms and gives a history of travel or exposure to someone with Covid-19 in the past 14 days, they most likely have Covid-19. The other “tip” to consider in determining the diagnosis is the illness onset. People who develop the flu usually do so 2 days after being exposed. On the other hand, a person exposed to Covid-19 usually develops symptoms 2-5 days after exposure and can develop symptoms as far out as day 14 after exposure. The American Thoracic Society has issued an easy to read document that outlines the onset of the flu and Covid-19 and the differences between their symptoms which can be found at www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/covid-vs-flu.pdf
Home Testing
To date, the FDA has authorized at-home COVID-19 testing kits from nine companies. It is important to note that the FDA authorized this under the Emergency Use Authorization use and it was not officially approved by the FDA. This is an important distinction. The companies are claiming high accuracy but they have not been submitted through the usual FDA approval as is true for other testing during this COVID-19 pandemic. A Stanford Health did a small study (30 subjects) on an at-home testing and reported that the accuracy is equal to those reported by medical professionals. The tests range in price from $109 to $155. Always check in with you physician for guidance as well as your insurance company for coverage. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/06/self-swabbing-tests-for-covid-19-accurate-and-safe.html
How It Spreads
Taking a good history is important in the diagnostic process. Both diseases are contagious by exposure to respiratory secretions and can be spread when people are in close quarters, within 6 feet of each other, and spend time together. Often the exposure time is 15 minutes and longer. A person giving a history of being at a big event indoors and spending time with others without masking or social distancing can be another indicator that the illness is Covid-19.
What we have seen through the pandemic so far is that when infection prevention protocols such as handwashing, wearing a mask, and social distancing are followed, the transmission of Covid-19 is decreased. These actions can also help to decrease the transmission of the flu.
Winter Survival Kit
You may be asking yourself at this point, what can I do to protect myself from getting the flu or Covid-19 this year? The nurse patient advocates at Healthlink Advocates (HLA) have put together a Winter Survival Kit that will help strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy this season. Here are the actions to take and “tips” to remember:
Get your flu vaccine! The flu vaccine is the number one way to help prevent getting the flu. Every year the CDC recommends that the flu vaccine be given to everyone 6 months and older. The flu vaccine is especially recommended for people with underlying illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. This year it is extremely important that people be vaccinated because of Covid-19. Currently, there is no vaccine for Covid-19.
Antiviral medication, such as Tamiflu can be taken for the flu. It should be started within 2 days of the onset of the flu. There is no recommended treatment for Covid-19, however, your physician should be contacted for guidance. Currently, the FDA has granted emergency use authorization for certain treatments for Covid-19 that include, antiviral drugs such as remdesivir, corticosteroid dexamethasone for people with severe Covid-19 that require supplemental oxygen and convalescent plasma.
Keep over the counter medication at home that can help with cold and flu symptoms, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, cough syrup, and decongestants. You should consult with your physician before taking any medication.
Stay hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated with plenty of fluids such as water is important to keeping your body healthy and your nasal passages lubricated.
Take vitamins, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin D to keep your immune system strong.
Sleep 7-8 hours each night for adequate rest.
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are packed with vitamins and antioxidants.
Handwashing, masking, and social distancing are extremely important actions that can be taken to prevent the spread of both Covid-19 and the flu. Remember to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds!
Self-isolate - if you start getting sick with fever, cough or shortness of breath take steps to safeguard yourself and others by self-isolating and calling your physician for guidance on diagnosis and treatment.
HLA has a “Hospital Prep Kit” that can help guide you on what documents and items you should have ready should you need to go to the hospital. We are happy to offer this to anyone interested. Click below to request your Kit.