This runny nose and cough, is it the flu, COVID-19 or a common cold? And does knowing that change anything? Many sick Quebecers are asking this question as the virus season is in full swing as the holidays approach.
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Is it important to know what you have?
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Yes, because the risks of transmission are not the same, summarizes epidemiologist Benoît Mâsse, from the University of Montreal. “With a cold, the risks of transmission are much lower. You almost need direct contact. Whereas with COVID-19, in a closed environment, it is much more difficult to protect yourself. The flu is somewhere in between. »
The common cold generally ends in less than a week, the flu in 10 to 15 days maximum, while COVID-19 can last more than two weeks, says Mr. Mâsse.
Colds are transmissible for a few days and the flu for about a week. “Once you have passed the peak of muscle pain and fever, you are generally not contagious. »
As for COVID-19, “it is transmissible before symptoms appear and the risk of transmission can last a very long time, more than two weeks,” says Mr. Mâsse. COVID-19 is three to four times more contagious than the flu.
How to distinguish the symptoms?
The cold is very rarely accompanied by fever and muscle pain, symptoms more associated with the flu and COVID-19, says Mr. Mâsse. And the symptoms gradually get worse.
“In comparison, with the flu, sometimes you feel good in the morning, and in the evening it’s like you’ve hit a wall. »
All three infections are accompanied by runny noses, coughing and fatigue, says microbiologist Donald Vinh of the McGill University Health Center. With the flu, you can also get chills and headaches.
Are we testing ourselves?
Being very contagious, it is a good idea to test yourself for COVID-19, according to Mr. Mâsse. But for influenza, there is no self-test available in Quebec, unlike Ontario and the United States, emphasizes the Dr Vinh. However, people who may have complications can take a flu test at a pharmacy.
And it may be appropriate to get tested for COVID-19 if you see people at risk, for example the elderly, even if you don’t have symptoms, because SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, is transmissible before symptoms appear.
“Let’s say I went to my hockey team’s party and a few days later I go to see my parents who are 87 and 88 years old, it might be a good idea to take a COVID-19 test,” says Mr. Mâsse.
Do we wear the mask?
Whether you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19: yes! Mr. Mâsse did so when he flew recently to see his parents. He changed his blue mask as the environment changed, for example when he got out of the plane.
And more recently, he wore a blue mask and stayed away from people when he went to his godmother’s funeral because his partner had recently had a respiratory illness and he himself had tickles in his throat.
If you are at risk, or if you have symptoms, it is better to wear the N95. “As long as you wear a mask, it might as well be the most effective, even if it is not very comfortable,” says Mr. Mâsse. He emphasizes that it is important to put it on correctly. “During the pandemic, we often saw people wearing their blue masks under their noses, it doesn’t do much good. It should fit snugly over the bridge of the nose. »
How do we take care of ourselves?
You have to rest and wait for it to pass, says the Dr Vinh. It is important to drink so as not to become dehydrated, and headaches and muscle pain can be relieved with painkillers or heat.
It is possible to take antiviral medications against the flu and COVID-19, available directly from certain pharmacists or by prescription, says the Dr Vinh. They must be taken within 48 to 72 hours and they reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
When should we consult?
It is important to seek medical attention if symptoms last more than a week or if they get worse day by day. “I have a patient in her thirties who waited too long with the flu and had to be hospitalized,” says Dr.r Vinh.
The ideal is to be vaccinated against the flu or COVID-19, say the two researchers.
The symptoms are different in children, adds Mr. Mâsse. “If a child has lost all his energy and is amorphous, and is not eating or drinking, it is worth consulting. For older people, if they are out of breath even while sitting or have chest pain, it’s the same thing. »
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- From 6000 to 7000
- Number of deaths attributable to influenza in Canada each year
Source: Statistics Canada