October 4, 2021 – This year’s flu season is upon us and health experts and organizations are bracing for a rough and challenging flu season that will be complicated by the persistence of Covid-19. The symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are nearly identical, which can be a challenge to diagnose based solely on clinical presentation.
The often-milder symptoms of a Covid-19 breakthrough infection in vaccinated or previously infected people can make it that much harder to distinguish between the two illnesses, or from a cold or allergies.
Physicians are advised to test for both flu and Covid-19 if the patient has symptoms of either. The Wall Street Journal says that a PCR test is still the most sensitive and accurate way to detect Covid-19, but over-the-counter rapid antigen tests are also fairly reliable and have the added benefit of being convenient and accessible for the general public.
To help deal with the complexity, some test-makers are offering combined flu and Covid-19 assays that test for both viruses at the same time. (More info can be found in Repertoire’s October issue.)
The WSJ has put together some of the top things that doctors say people should know about distinguishing between Covid-19 and other illnesses, and what to do if you’re sick.
The WSJ article answers the questions:
- How do symptoms of Covid-19 breakthrough infections compare with flu, colds and other illnesses?
- What can the incubation period signify about a possible illness?
- How do you tell the difference between flu and Covid-19 in children?
- Can local health data help you make sense of your symptoms?
- Is it possible to have multiple infections at once?
- Should I get vaccinated for both Covid-19 and the flu?