Everything You Need To Know About COVID-19 Vs Flu Vs Common Cold

 

COVID-19 Vs Flu Vs Common Cold

COVID-19 has claimed about 2,690,000 lives worldwide and here in the us over 539,000 people have passed away.

The difference between COVID-19 vs flu vs common cold.

Incubation time

The incubation time with COVID- 19 is anywhere from 1 to 14 days.

Typically a person develops symptoms four to five days after being infected but symptoms can appear as early as two days after an infection or as late as 14 days after an infection

The incubation time for the flu is shorter and typically a person develops symptoms anywhere from one to four to four days after infection.

Common cold

Usually it takes one to three days for a person to develop symptoms. So that does not really help very much except that we learned that COVID-19 has a very long incubation time! So lets look at symptoms and symptoms onset.

In COVID-19 the symptoms can develop gradually but with some people especially older adults there is an abrupt onset of symptoms;whereas the onset of symptoms for the flu are typically sudden and abrupt. 

If you are suffering from stomach ulcer or had a very bad digestive experience try to avoid junk foods

The common cold presents differently and the symptoms have a gradual and slow onset.

Fever

In some cases it can be avoided by a well planed and well calculated diet

Fever is rare with the common cold Both COVID- 19 and the flu typically present with fever. In a study looking at the classic symptoms of COVID- 19 fever was reported by more than 78% of patients.

The study examined more than 24 000 patients across various countries. Although it must be said an older adult can present with a typical symptoms and have no fever at all

Cough

Both COVID- 19 and the flu can present with a cough and in that study I mentioned earlier 57 percent presented with a cough. Similarly in a report of more than 370000 confirmed COVID-19 cases with known symptom status reported to the CDC in the United States Cough was reported 50% of the time.

Mind you the cough with COVID-19 as well as with the flu is typically dry. It is interesting that in that study

approximately one in five test positive patients were never febrile and fewer than three in five developed a cough.

Study authors do point out that some of the patients they were looking at were likely to have moderate to severe disease warranting hospitalization and thus testing, so they surmised that we might be even overestimating the true prevalence of symptoms in the population as there might be people who are a symptomatic or mildly symptomatic.

The cough in a patient with the common cold is usually mild and can be hacking.

Both COVID19 and the flu especially when symptomatic the cough is described as quite severe.

Shortness of breath

This symptom is seen with symptomatic COVID 19 patients are sometimes seen with the flu. This is a rare symptom for the common cold.

Shortness of breath made up only 23 percent of presenting symptoms in the study I mentioned earlier looking at a spectrum of patients over various countries. Just as interesting in the report to the CDC Shortness of breath was also only present in 29 of the patients.

How do we explain differences to previously published studies with higher percentages for shortness of breath it has made the life very difficult.

This is probably because previous studies and reports had more likely had a higher proportion of adults with more severe disease whereas more recent studies included adults with mild symptoms.

some weggis like onion or garlic can be introduce into the diet so that this can be neutralized completely

Due to the wider availability of testing. The study published in June of 2020 did conclude fever and cough are the most prevalent symptoms of adults infected by the SARS virus corona virus 2.

Fatigue

I am not evaluating about the feeling when your wife asks you to get a cup of water for her and you are too tired because you had a hard day.

Once again COVID- 19 and the flu share a common symptom and the feeling of feeling tired and fatigued is common. In fact the feeling of extreme exhaustion is early and prominent with the flu.

Fatigue is also sometimes present with the common cold.

List of symptoms

• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion,
• Sneezing

Here the cold does differentiate itself from both COVID-19 and the flu.

Having a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion are common with the cold. Its less common with the flu and less common with COVID- 19 and these symptoms are only seen sometimes.

I might add that a sore throat is also more common with the cold especially if post nasal drip is involved. This once again is only seen sometimes with both COVID-19 and the flu.

GI symptoms.

GI symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea are once again rare with the common cold whereas it can be present for both COVID- 19 and flu patients.

• The report to the CDC found that 19% had diarrhea and 12% had nausea and vomiting.
• In that report 370 000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were looked at.
• Of note the GI symptoms are more common in children than adults with symptoms of the flu.

Body aches

When the entire body aches, the entire body is painful which makes it painful to get up and move and move along. Body aches are only slight and rare for the cold but quite prominent for the flu.

Body aches are also known as Myalgias and is present sometimes for COVID-19.

Headaches

Headache another common symptom with the flu and it features only sometimes with COVID- 19 and its a rare symptom with COLD. In that report to the CDC around 370 000 COVID- 19 confirmed patients 34% had a headache.

Compare the complications between the flu COVID-19 as well as the common cold:

As per CDC website the complications for both the flu and covid 19 include

• Pneumonia
• Respiratory failure
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Fluid in the lungs
• Sepsis
• Cardiac injury
• Which can lead to heart attacks
• Arrhythmias
• Multi-organ failure
• Kidney failure
• Respiratory failure
• Shock.

A worsening of chronic medical conditions such as COPD, coronary artery disease.

Diseases of the nervous system and diabetes and inflammation of the heart, brain and muscle tissues and a secondary bacterial infection.

So these are bacterial infections on top of the COVID- 19 infection or the flu.

There are additional complications associated with COVID-19 and these can include Blood clots in the veins

• Arteries of the lungs.
• Heart.
• Legs.
• Brain.
• This can lead to a stroke.
• Heart attack.

In children you see a multi-system inflammatory syndrome.

These things are not seen with the common cold. Depending on the viral strain a cold can last up to two weeks. Colds are milder upper respiratory illness with a runny, stuffy nose usually without a fever.

In some cases a prior infertility or testicular cancer  may occur. 

Having said that your healthcare provider your primary care doctor might have difficulty distinguishing COVID- 19 from the flu or for that matter even a very severe cold.

Your doctor will order a test a PCR test to test for COVID-19.

He or she can also order a rapid flu test to test for the flu.

You might ask yourself can i get the flu in COVID- 19 at the same time or in the same season, Yes of course both of them are caused by two different viruses, one is COVID- 19 corona virus and the other can be caused by a host of influenza strains.

A Bonus symptom:Symptom of COVID- 19 is loss of taste.

Most of us get a cold at least once a year.

Causes of cold

While there are many pathogens that can cause the common cold, rhino virus is considered to be the main culprit, responsible for more than one-half of cold-like illnesses.

In fact, somewhere in the ballpark of one hundred different strains, or Stereotypes, of rhino viruses have been associated with cold-like symptoms in humans,. also prior infertility in some cases. 

Rhinovirus, which is sometimes referred to as RV, was isolated back in 1956

The virus itself is referred to as a positive-sense, single-stranded non-enveloped RNA virus belonging to the picornavirus family.

Viruses are simply genetic material, either RNA or DNA, surrounded by a protective coat.

In the case of single-stranded RNA viruses, there are two types, either positive-sense or negative-sense RNA.

With a positive strand.

The RNA can act as m RNA and be directly translated in the ribosome's of the host cell.

With a negative strand.

This will act as the complement of what would be the sense strand.

The virus must also contain an enzyme called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that can use the negative strand to generate the positive strand through complementary base pairing.

Then the newly made positive strand can be translated to generate the viral proteins.

In the case of rhino viruses, the positive RNA genome serves as m RNA, which codes for proteins that are involved in replication, virus assembly, and the structural aspects,namely the capsid.

We also know that rhino viruses don't have an envelope surrounding their RNA.

Part of the picornavirus family, which is one of the largest families of viruses.

The Name

These viruses are small, hence the prefix pico, and contain ribonucleic acid, hence the RNA. They also have a naked capsid structure.

The picornavirus family has over 230 members,

Which are divided into five genera

• Enterorvirus.
• Rhinovirus.
• Heparnavirus.
• Cardiovirus.
• Aphthovirus.

Compared to the other genera, rhino viruses are known to be sensitive to acidic pH and replicate poorly at temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius, which typically limits them to causing upper respiratory tract infections.

The Structure.

The positive-strand RNA of picornaviruses is surrounded by an icosahedral capsid, which is that soccer ball looking shape we talked about earlier.

12 pentameric vertices with icosahedral capsid are arrenged in a set of protein

For all picornaviruses, the capsid is stable in the presence of detergents or heat, but in the case of rhino viruses, not in the presence of acid, as we mentioned.

The Damage.

By binding to cell receptors of a specific hosts particals of pricornavirus attaches.

They are normal functioning in the hosts cells receptor

to bind them these viruses has adapted

To be more specific, upwards of 80% of rhino viruses bind to specific molecules called ICAM-1,which stands for intercellular adhesion molecule-1, on the surface of epithelial cells, fibroblasts,and endothelial cells.

The process of the virus binding to the appropriate receptor on the appropriate type of cell is what we refer to as attachment. Attachment then triggers conformational changes in surface proteins of the capsid, which causes penetration and uncoating.

The rhino virus RNA is injected directly into the cytoplasm of the host cell. Once inside, the genetic material doesn't have to undergo transcription, of course,because its already mRNA.

The host cell ribosome then translates the viral genetic material, triggering a very intricate and tightly controlled process of protein chopping and virus assembly, all orchestrated by the directions encoded in the viral genome.

At the same time, the host cell generates tons of viral mRNA.

Ultimately, many rhino virus particles are made, as many as 100,000 virions per cell,which are then released via cell lysis, where the cell sort of explodes.

Thinking in more detail about rhino virus infection, it turns out as little as ONE infectious viral particle can initiate an infection.

The virus typically enters through the eyes, mouth, or nose, either by airborne droplets generated by a sneeze or cough, or by passage on fomites, and then initiates an infection in the upper respiratory tract.

Most of the viral replication going on there happens in the nose.

The severity of symptoms really depends on how much, and when, the virus is shedding.

At the peak of infection, the nasal secretions of an infected person, commonly referred to as snot, can contain concentrations of 500 to 1000 infectious virions per milliliter.

The infected cells release chemicals like histamine, which cause the characteristic runny nose and other irritating symptoms associated with the common cold.

Since there are so many Stereotypes of rhinoviruses, its almost impossible to build up a lasting immunity to them, which is what results in rhinovirus-induced colds being so common.

There are other viruses and bacteria that cause similar symptoms too, like enteroviruses,coronaviruses, and adenoviruses.

For the most part, its difficult to identify which pathogen made you sick.

Any cold is likely to pass pretty quickly. 

In some cases of thyroid disorder it is different 

Thinking about rhino viruses out in the wild, there are two main mechanisms by which they are spread, as we have discussed, either by breathing in aerosol droplets, or by fomites, which means on hands or contaminated inanimate objects.

Some experts think that hands are the major vector for viruses, and direct person-to-person contact is the predominant mode of spreading.

These non-enveloped viruses are extremely stable and can survive on things like doorknobs and toothbrush handles for hours.

At the same time, we know that rhino viruses cause clinical illness in only half of the people infected, though a

symptomatic people can also spread the virus, even if they make much less of it.

For the most part, infants and children have the highest rates of rhino virus infection,though they can spread these infections to their family members pretty easily.

And especially during the colder months, its not surprising for rhino viruses to be passed around in school or other social settings.

When it comes to treatment, there are tons of over-the-counter remedies that help treat the common cold, but rhino viruses are not a solid candidate for vaccination, since there are so many Stereotypes.

Hand washing and disinfecting commonly handled items is the best way to prevent spreading of the virus.

So now with the most common virus covered, lets move forward and talk about other viruses that cause common diseases.

It can cause sneezing and coughing and just makes you feel awful.

The worst thing about the common cold is that you can take medications to help with the symptoms, but you really cant treat the actual cold with antibiotics like you

Well lets talk about what causes it:

Virus.

And while all living things are made of 1 or more cells see the modern cell theory viruses are not cells.

Viruses are not technically classified as living things since they lack many characteristics of life, but there is debate in calling them nonliving as well.

Medications like antibiotics attack bacteria like E.coli which are living cells.

Anti-fungal medications can be used on fungi like athletes foot which are made of living cells.

Viruses are not bacteria or fungi. You cant classify a virus as a prokaryote or a eukaryote either because its not Cell.

Structure

• Cells are bigger than viruses
• To see a virus you need to have an electronic microscope
• They are many shaped
• Its fancei
• Virus attacks on bacteria
• The shape of a virus is not constant it may varies always
• Viruses can also can have other structures.
• Some viruses package special enzymes with them.
• Some viruses have an outer envelope.

These additions can be useful to the virus in virus replication. One thing that makes virus replication, or reproduction, unique is that they cant replicate without a host. And its their reproducing.

Viruses tend to be very specific for the host that they are going to go infect, but anything that is alive can be a host, because cells have the machinery viruses need in order to replicate.

Were going to talk about two types of viral replication cycles.

The first one is the lytic cycle.

In the lytic cycle, the virus, remember very selective, attaches to a host cell.

It takes the genetic material from the virus and it starts following the instructions,which in this case is very bad, because the instructions tell it to makes copies of the virus.

This is known as the lytic cycle.

• The lysing of the cell membrane is a very bad thing for the cell.
• The other cycle is called the lysogenic
• The vital genetic material and their own genetic material replicated in the new daughter and they again make new cells
• That is the lysogenic cycle.
• That may not seem like a problem, but it really becomes one if it gets triggered to go intothe lytic cycle from that point, because then all of those cells

The immune system is the key for cold or running nose and for nutralising symptoms or making them not that bad on you you have your medications

Like most viruses, it is very specific.

A person which is infected with HIV can be vulnerable to other infections since HIV goes after the immune cells

There are medications that have been developed to help keep HIV from replicating as quickly,and there continues to be research looking into ways to keep the virus from attaching because if the virus cant attach it cant insert its genetic material.

Positive about viruses

Definitely something to explore more. Also, remember how we mentioned that viruses can go after other organisms like insects,Some of these viruses can target certain types of pest insects.

Still, its important to consider that whenever talking about any kind of pesticide chemical or viral there could be consequences in the ecosystem.

you have been blowing your nose all day all week, you have used like three packs of tissue, your nose has got an entirely red and sore,

What is causing this runny nose, you know because there could be various different reasons that's causing this inflammation in the nose which is causing it to run.

The inflammation is call it rhinit is that's the fancy scientific term for it when it basically just means inflammation in areas which is causing it to run.

Causes of the Bleeding nose

• The most common epistaxis is anterior epistaxis.
• We start bleeding from the front part pat of the nostrils
• Each of our nostrils has a mass of blood vessels called Kiesselbachs plexus.
• That is close to our skin surface
• Thus protecting the blood vessels in it.
• Mucus is so useful.
• However during winter, the air is dry
• During an inhale we take moisture from the mucus
• Resulting a dry skin of nose
• Some peoples skin is very sensitive.
• Causing damage to the skin and blood vessels
• Causing an anterior epistaxis or nosebleed

Causes of the burning nose

• Tiny hair and mucus around the hair makes our nose
• They trap harmful forein parical like dust and pollan in the air during breathing
• Not giving those harmful particles entry into our system
• Some spicess like chilli ,musterd ,horse radish and wawabi
• Contain chemicals called capsaicin and allyl isothiocyanate.
• When we eat such food items.
• Pharynx opens and give a way to capsicum and allyl isothyocyanate.
• To reach our nose
• The chemicals activate the heat sensing receptors.
• Thus causing inflammation in our nose and irritation of the mucus.
• Hence, as a defense mechanism more mucus is produced in our nose.
• The nose runs to get rid of these chemicals

Stopping a sneeze

•  A sneeze is controlled by the trigeminal nerve present in our face.
• When irritants like dust and pollen enter our nose.
• Our body trigger a sneezing thru the triminal nerve to expel it out with a huge pressuer of force
  
  
  
• Now, many people close their nostrils and mouth to stop a sneeze.
• But this can lead to transfer of force and pressure inside their heads.
• Thus damaging their eardrums or other tissues.
• Normally, sneeze should not be stopped.
• But in exceptional situations.
• A relatively safe way to stop a sneeze is to press our finger above our upper lip.
• Since the trigeminal nerve is also present above our upper lip.
• This sends a signal to the brain throu that nerve
• This interrupts the sneeze response and distracts the brain.
• Thus helping in stopping our sneeze.

Causes of the running nose

• Running nose can be a result of common cold ,flu,allergies ,sinus infection
• Mucus membranes present in the nose secrets a cticy substance called mucus
• However sometimes, this membrane produces excess mucus which comes out of our nostrils.
• Mucus contains mucins.
• Which is sicky and having cunsistancy of a gel to trap the germs and dust
• Thus preventing them from entering our body.
• Mucus also contains antibodies
• which kills germs and the foregin particals
• The inhaled is treated in the nostrils with mucus it warms and moisturizes it
• The muscus prevent the blocking or damage to our breathing pasage

Could it be viral the cause of it could it be environmental factors you know for example temperature differences you are going from one room that's cold to a warmer room and its causing this rhinitis and could it be bacterial could it be a hormone imbalance.

People caught nasal douching its all the same thing but the beauty of it is that what its going to do its going to wash away that mucus and any irritants that are in your nose which is causing this inflammation and making your nose run.

Nose irrigation

Its in expensive, everyone pretty much has these ingredients at home and it is very easy to do, its a win-win really and the way you do it is very simple

You just get

• one teaspoon of salt
• one teaspoon of bicarbonate soda

Put them in a glass, boil the kettle and then pour the water in there about a pints worth of water and mix it in then, let it cool let it cool to a sensible temperature.

Because you don't want to burn yourself and you are going to use it to irrigate but once

let it cool down to a sensible temperature, you have made your great solution you need to stand over a sink because it is quite messy when you are doing get

• Wash your hands first 
• Form a cup with your palm in one hand.
• Pour it into your palm,
• Cover one nostril
• Sniff it up into the nostril
• Let it run back out,

You may end up getting some of this solution traveling into the back ear throat or into your mouth but that is

completely fine its completely harmless.

If you do get any of this solution in there just spit it out its harmless, another thing that Id like to add is, each time you do the nasal irrigation, lets say you do it once in the morning and once at night you need to make a fresh batch every time, you cant use that old batch.

Repeat the whole cycle again, when you are about to do another nasal irrigation session

Steroid Nasal Sprays

Another option is a steroid nasal sprays, they can also be used for a runny nose for example in a cold but again I would always recommend everyone speak their pharmacist first before they purchase a steroid nasal spray just so they can check that you are suitable and safe to take it

CONCLUSION

  The Learning opjective of this session is evaluating The difference between COVID-19 vs flu vs common cold. and persistent runny nose, also known as chronic rhinitis, is characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucus a triggered by allergies or other irritant leading to excessive mucus secretion with or without congestion.

It has been shown that disrupting these posterior nasal nerves significantly resolve symptoms of a runny nose and congestion whether due to non-allergic rhinitis or severe allergies.

Clarifix is an innovative cryotherapy device developed to ablate the posterior nasal nerves thereby resolving chronic rhinitis symptoms.

This nerve ablation is accomplished by freezing the mucosal lining precisely where the posterior nasal nerves are located while preserving blood supply.

This procedure can be performed with local anesthesia in the office under endoscopic guidance through the nostril. The cryo probe is introduced through the nostril after adequate local anesthesia has taken affect.

Under endoscopic visualization, the probe is placed precisely in the back of the nose where the nasal nerves innervate the nasal mucosa. This anatomic location is known as the posterior middle meatus.

Once placement is confirmed, the cryo probe is activated allowing the precise freezing of the target nasal mucosa. Freezing is administered for 30 seconds

After 30 seconds, the cryo probe is turned off and the ice crystals in the area allowed to thaw for 30 seconds before the probe is removed.

There is minimal downtime and pain. Complete healing typically occurs within 4 weeks.80% of patients report significant reduction in chronic rhinitis symptoms by as much as56% on average.

If you suffer from an intractable runny nose, ask your doctor to see if you may benefit from ClariFix.