fwubglubbel t1_iwqj6pm wrote on November 17, 2022 at 4:32 PM

With so much flu and covid around, is there an easy way to tell the difference? My friends are claiming they "just have the flu" but I'd like to know for sure.

FluFighterDrJB t1_iwr73t7 wrote on November 17, 2022 at 7:09 PM

You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by symptoms alone because some of the symptoms are the same. Some tests can differentiate between flu and COVID-19 at the same time. If one of these tests is not available, many testing locations (https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html) provide flu and COVID-19 tests separately. Talk to a healthcare provider about getting tested for both flu and COVID-19 if you have symptoms. Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm

glassfusion1 t1_iwrh1hd wrote on November 17, 2022 at 8:14 PM

Encourage them to do a home Covid test. Get a result in 15 minutes. Of course, the PCR test is more accurate but that is not as easy to do. The diseases have symptoms that can overlap so it is dependent on the person's presentation. There are many online symptom charts comparing Covid, Flu and Cold symptoms.