Khaberni - With the beginning of autumn and the drop in temperatures in some places, the world is witnessing a rising wave of influenza infections and several variants of COVID-19, which poses a new challenge combining two similar dangers: influenza and coronavirus.
According to the British "Independent" newspaper, the two viruses share many symptoms, making it more difficult for the average patient who is looking for home remedies to differentiate between them.
However, there are differences in how the viruses appear and the risks they pose, which we must know to correctly identify the infection, and to ensure the acquisition of effective treatment and avoid the serious complications of both viruses.
How do I know if I have the flu?
Influenza is a respiratory infection that spreads strongly during seasonal transitions and can be more debilitating to the body than the common cold. While the common cold causes nasal discharge (rhinitis), sneezing, teary eyes, and mild throat irritation, influenza tends to appear suddenly with fever, body aches, and fatigue.
It is noted that thousands of people are hospitalized annually due to influenza, which poses a particular danger to the elderly, children, people with chronic diseases, or those with weakened immune systems.
According to doctors, vaccination remains the strongest means of defense, where studies show that vaccines significantly reduce cases of severe illness and hospital admissions.
How do I know if I have COVID-19?
The variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to cause serious diseases, especially among the health-vulnerable groups. The virus continues to evolve, with new variants spreading easily through respiratory droplets.
The common symptoms of the disease have changed since the start of the pandemic, with many people now experiencing symptoms similar to the common cold, such as runny nose, sore throat, or sinus congestion. However, others still suffer from fever and chills, persistent cough, fatigue, headache, and shortness of breath.
There may also be stomach issues like nausea and diarrhea.
Doctors also recommend paying attention to "hoarseness" in the voice, which has become a prominent feature of the modern Corona strain known as "Stratus", which is divided into variants XFG and XFG.3.
Although the virus represents a large percentage of new cases, experts are not concerned about its spread, pointing out that it is natural for viruses to mutate and change.
Those aged 65 and older, nursing home residents, and people with chronic health problems are entitled to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to doctors, the levels of influenza and COVID-19 infections increase with the onset of winter, joining other seasonal diseases such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and norovirus.
