Amid the rise of COVID-19 cases, this Wednesday, an expert discussed its difference to respiratory diseases, influenza, or flu.
“In terms po doon sa sintomas noong flu, malaki po iyong pagkakahawig noong mga sintomas na nakikita sa mga taong nagkakaimpeksyon ng flu at saka COVID,” said flu expert Dr. Donald Ray Josue.
He said common symptoms include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, and body aches.
“Karaniwan po iyong sintomas kung saan nawawalan po ng pang-amoy or panlasa, iyan po ay sintomas na makikita sa COVID ‘no more than sa flu,” said Josue in a public briefing.
“Pero regardless po of the symptoms na nakikita natin doon sa flu at saka sa COVID, ang mahalaga pong maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na maaari po nating proteksiyunan ang ating sarili sa pamamaraan po ng pagpapalakas po ng ating immune system,” he added.
He encouraged the public to eat vegetables and fruits, exercise, and get the flu vaccine every year, according to the WHO recommendation.
“Ang akala po ng marami iyong simpleng trangkaso po ay ito po ay simpleng sakit lamang,” said Josue, vaccine medical director of GSK Philippines. “Ang nais po nating ibahagi ay ang flu po ay maaari din po siyang magdulot ng mga komplikasyon.”
He said possible complications from the flu include pneumonia or lung infection that could be a reason for hospitalization or death.
Difference between COVID-19 and flu
According to Josue, the following are among the “high-risk” groups of complications due to the flu.
- Children aged 6 months to 5 years
- Pregnant women
- The elderly
- Have comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, those on dialysis, or cancer
- Health workers looking after patients
In the study in the United States, he said that patients with COVID-19 who had previously been vaccinated against the flu were less likely to experience severe infection or sepsis.
He also said that the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 was lower than those admitted to the intensive care unit.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.