How Is the Flu Different From COVID-19

How Is the Flu Different From COVID-19

Article By: American Academy of Pediatrics
Summarized by Robert Dabrow, MD, FAAP

Both the flu (influenza) and COVID-19 will be spreading this fall and winter, especially among people who are not vaccinated. The two contagious respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart. Fortunately, we have annual vaccines to help prevent the flu for age 6 months and up. In addition, this flu season, we have COVID vaccines for anyone 5 years old and up. Make sure your child gets a flu shot if they haven’t already, and their COVID-19 shot as soon as they are eligible.

Is it COVID-19 or the flu?
Because some of the symptoms of flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses are similar, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing to confirm a diagnosis. People can be infected with both flu and the virus that causes COVID-19 at the same time and have symptoms of both influenza and COVID-19. Generally, however, flu symptoms show up about 1 to 4 days after being exposed to a sick person. Typically, a person experiences COVID-19 symptoms about 5 days after being exposed to someone who is sick, but symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after infection.

We have been overwhelmed with patients and families concerned if their child has been exposed to and/or is infected with COVID-19. What we observed in January was that almost 90% of children in our community with fever associated with flu like upper respiratory symptoms (such as runny nose, cough, sore throat, vague aches and pains) have the Omicron Variant of Covid-19. In addition, cases of Influenza continue to rise in our community. Fortunately, as the media has recently publicized, this variant is generally not associated with severe disease or lung infection or more serious complications. Most children recover completely in 3-5 days with supportive care (analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and do not need to be evaluated by a medical professional. Testing does not change the outcome for most healthy children and testing does not change the quarantine recommendations from the CDC.

As a result of this recent surge in cases and lack of test availability, we have been forced to discontinue routine office testing for COVID-19 but we still have the resources to perform rapid Influenza testing. This will continue to be helpful for those patients who may need anti-viral medication for Influenza. Of course, the best measures to prevent both COVID-19 and Influenza for your child continues to be vaccination and we will offer vaccination for both diseases as long as our supply is available.

How is the Flu different from Covid?
American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2021)

For the full AAP Article, CLICK HERE!

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Dr Bob has been seeing my twins since they got out of the NICU and we love him. Very attentive, very nice, knowledgeable and understanding.

We recently moved so now it takes us up to 45 minutes to get there when it used to take us 15 minutes but we’ll never change doctors.

The office is always clean and the staff is super nice, highly recommended
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I love Celebration Pediatrics. The office staff is so kind and always willing to accommodate me when I need a last minute appointment or to reschedule. The doctors and nurses are also incredible.

My family loves Dr. Anwer, he is a remarkable doctor. You can tell he is very passionate about his career and genuinely loves his patients which is so important. He doesn’t treat my kids like just another patient but instead takes his time to ask questions and really understand our concerns.

I really could not recommend this office and Doctor enough!
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The entire staff as you walk in are AMAZING!!! They greet you with smiles answer all questions and treat your child like it was their own.

There was no wait time and super super friendly!!! I am so happy they took great care of us. Dr. C is Amazing too!! Super great listener and. Wonderful dr.

Although we are new there she seemed like she knew and understood very well my sons asthma conditions!! Thanks everyone!!! Lots of love for you all!❤️❤️❤️ Sincerely, Happy Mommy 😃😃😃💯💯💯💯
Linda Sosa - March 23, 2022
This was our first visit with this center, and it was incredible, the registration was fast, the waiting time to go to the room was short, and the best of all this was the wonderful treatment of Dr. Toma with our daughter was incredible

Our daughter said for the first time that she loved going to the doctor and that the doctor was very funny and kind to her, and like a parents made us feel safe, she explained everything to us, the treatment towards us was wonderful, recommended a thousand percent,

Dr. Toma is wonderful. Amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Awilda Garcia - Feb 15, 2022
Fantastic doctors, nurses, and staff! Patient, listen, educate, answer every question, and spend adequate time with each patient.

I have found that the doctors at this location are intelligent and educated in a wide realm of topics which makes the experience much richer, especially when it is your first child!

Quick to get patients a visit when needed and we usually don’t wait more than 5-10 min to be seen.
Jordan McKinney - Jan 31, 2022
We are very happy and pleased to have found this place for our girls. We have recently moved from another state and the transition to this office was very smooth.

The staff was so helpful in making sure that the needed records for our girls were obtained from our prior provider. Our girls also loved the visit with NP Janil.

Would highly recommend this office.
K. Abegail Faleiros - March 28, 2022
We had our first newborn appointment at the practice and felt so comfortable. Monica was very easy to talk to and eased some of our little worries as first time parents.

She was patient, sweet, and very knowledgeable!

We left our appointment feeling very secure and with the practice that we chose!
Jenna Miles - April 11, 2022
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