News Coronavirus News Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Flu: Similarities and Differences By Anisa Arsenault Anisa Arsenault is an editor at Verywell Health who works on condition-focused content and manages news. She previously managed news for TheBump.com. Learn about our editorial process Anisa Arsenault Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH on June 08, 2020 linkedin Anju Goel, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in the California public health system addressing communicable disease, health policy, and disaster preparedness. Learn about our Medical Review Board Anju Goel, MD, MPH May 02, 2020 Share Tweet Email Print Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes Symptoms Complications Transmission Treatment Part of what makes the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) so concerning is how innocuous initial symptoms can be. Just like the flu, COVID-19 most commonly begins with fever, tiredness, and coughing. However, many factors—ranging from cause to complications—set the two respiratory illnesses apart. Verywell / Lara Antal Causes Different viruses cause influenza and COVID-19. Flu Causes All types of flu—the most common of which is influenza A—are caused by an influenza virus. There are hundreds of strains that mutate often. For example, influenza A comes in two subtypes and many strains; H1N1 is the strain that caused swine flu in 2009. Beyond that, influenza B, C, and D also exist. How Many Different Types of Flu Are There? Coronavirus (COVID-19) Causes COVID-19, on the other hand, is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. It's part of a larger family of coronaviruses. The milder coronaviruses can cause the common cold (although for the most part, colds are more likely to be caused by rhinoviruses). The more severe strains can cause Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Symptoms The two illnesses vary somewhat in symptoms, although there are still emerging details as to the symptoms and illness progression for COVID-19. Flu Symptoms Seasonal influenza comes on suddenly. Its incubation period—the period of time between contracting the virus and showing symptoms—is 1 to 4 days. It typically causes several symptoms: Fever or chills (not everyone with the flu will experience this)CoughSore throatRunny or stuffy noseMuscle or body achesHeadachesFatigueVomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults) Symptoms of Influenza Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptoms COVID-19 symptoms may appear 1 to 14 days after initial exposure. The most commonly include: FeverDry cough FatigueShortness of breath Some patients experience additional symptoms: Sore throatRunny or stuffy noseBody achesDiarrheaLoss of taste or smell Approximately one out of every six people with COVID-19 will become seriously ill. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) say difficulty breathing is a symptom that warrants medical attention, regardless of whether the cause is thought to be the flu, coronavirus, or something else. Complications Clearly, the flu and COVID-19 have quite a bit of symptom overlap. But the complications of the illnesses are where they start diverge a little more. At a March 3 press briefing, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that globally, COVID-19 causes more severe disease than seasonal influenza. The reason? Many people around the world have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains. But since COVID-19 is brand new, no one has immunity. As a result, infection is more likely, and some of those infections will result in severe illness. Flu Complications Moderate: Sinus infectionEar infection Serious: PneumoniaHeart inflammation (myocarditis)Brain inflammation (encephalitis)Muscle tissue inflammation (rhabdomyolysis) Multi-organ failure SepsisWorsening of chronic conditions Coronavirus (COVID-19) Complications PneumoniaSevere acute respiratory syndromeKidney failure The most serious complication of both the flu and COVID-19 is death. Transmission Both the flu and COVID-19 can be spread by respiratory droplets from an infected person. But current WHO data suggests one person with COVID-19 infects between 2 and 2.5 people on average, compared to someone with the seasonal flu, who will infect an average of 1.3 people. Still, WHO says flu spreads faster than COVID-19, since it has a shorter incubation period and a shorter time between successive cases. Related Links: Stay Educated:What Is Coronavirus?A Detailed Timeline of COVID-19Stay Safe:COVID-19: Should You Wear a Mask?Sex and Love in the Time of CoronavirusHow to Safely Grocery Shop and Get Delivery During the COVID-19 PandemicStay Healthy:How to Care for COVID-19 at HomeWhen to Seek Emergency Care During the COVID-19 PandemicHow to Use Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Outbreak Treatment A major difference between the flu and COVID-19 is that the former has both preventative and curative treatments, and the latter does not. The more mild symptoms of both conditions can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, fever reducers, and cough medicines. Flu Prevention and Treatment Annual flu shots are recommended by the CDC for everyone 6 months of age and older. While their effectiveness varies every year, recent studies show vaccines reduce flu risk by 40% to 60%. Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, the shot lessens the severity of symptoms and protects against complications. Quick Flu Shot Facts Everyone Should Know Antiviral medications are available with a prescription and can shorten the duration of flu symptoms if taken within 48 hours of symptom onset. They can also prevent the flu if you’ve been in close contact with someone who’s been diagnosed. The FDA has approved these antiviral medications for the flu: Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)Relenza (zanamivir)Rapivab (peramivir)Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) Should You Use Antiviral Medications for the Flu? Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention and Treatment There are currently no preventative vaccines, antiviral medications, or other treatments for COVID-19. However, on May 1, the antiviral remdesivir—initially developed by Gilead Sciences for Ebola—became the first treatment option for COVID-19 to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA. COVID-19 Vaccines: Stay up to date on which vaccines are available, who can get them, and how safe they are. The FDA has permitted remdesivir to be used in adults and children hospitalized with severe cases of the disease. In addition, clinical trials for other treatments are underway, many of which are examining whether existing drugs can target COVID-19 safely. COVID-19 Treatments: Medications, Plasma, and Vaccines While a lack of treatment sounds scary, about 80% of people recover from coronavirus without needing special treatment. Feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being proactive about your mental health can help keep both your mind and body stronger. Learn about the best online therapy options available to you. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Health Organization. Q&A on coronavirus (COVID-19). Updated February 23, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation summary. Updated March 11, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu symptoms & complications. Updated September 18, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Symptoms. Updated February 29, 2020. World health organization. Coronavirus. World Health Organization. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19. March 3, 2020. World Health Organization. Q&A: Similarities and differences – COVID-19 and influenza. March 17, 2020. MedlinePlus. Coronavirus infections. Updated March 3, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine effectiveness: How well do the flu vaccines work? January 3, 2020. Food and Drug Administration. Influenza (flu) antiviral drugs and related information. Updated August 18, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 2019) prevention & treatment. Updated February 15, 2020. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA issues emergency use authorization for potential COVID-19 treatment. May 1, 2020.