Testing Best Way to Know Difference Between Cold, Flu or COVID
2022-01-14
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1Medical experts say the only way to know for sure if you have the common cold, flu or COVID-19 is to get a test because symptoms can be similar.
2The flu and COVID-19 have common symptoms, such as cough, fever, tiredness and muscle soreness.
3The viruses can all spread before people know they are sick.
4Many people who have COVID-19 do not feel sick but they can still spread the virus.
5The main difference with COVID-19 is people sometimes lose their ability to smell and taste.
6With flu, fevers are more common.
7With colds, people usually have throat pain or nasal congestion.
8The viruses are separate.
9It is, however, possible to become sick with more than one at the same time.
10Some people are calling the combination of flu and COVID-19 "flurona."
11Kristen Coleman is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
12She said the number of people with flu and COVID-19 will increase in the coming weeks and months as the northern hemisphere enters flu season.
13Testing is the best way to find out which virus you have.
14While tests are in short supply in some parts of the world, Coleman said the best way to find out is to visit a pharmacy,
15where you can be tested for both flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
16As soon as you know which illness you have, doctors can help with treatment.
17Coleman said that in normal times, laboratories can find out if you have the common cold.
18However, right now, most are focused on testing for COVID-19.
19One way to reduce your chances of having a problem with flu and COVID is to get vaccinated, experts say.
20The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is safe to get the flu vaccine and a third COVID-19 shot, or booster, at the same time.
21I'm Dan Friedell
1Medical experts say the only way to know for sure if you have the common cold, flu or COVID-19 is to get a test because symptoms can be similar. 2The flu and COVID-19 have common symptoms, such as cough, fever, tiredness and muscle soreness. The viruses can all spread before people know they are sick. 3Many people who have COVID-19 do not feel sick but they can still spread the virus. 4Important differences 5The main difference with COVID-19 is people sometimes lose their ability to smell and taste. 6With flu, fevers are more common. 7With colds, people usually have throat pain or nasal congestion. 8The viruses are separate. It is, however, possible to become sick with more than one at the same time. 9Some people are calling the combination of flu and COVID-19 "flurona." 10Kristen Coleman is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She said the number of people with flu and COVID-19 will increase in the coming weeks and months as the northern hemisphere enters flu season. 11Testing is the best way to find out which virus you have. 12While tests are in short supply in some parts of the world, Coleman said the best way to find out is to visit a pharmacy, where you can be tested for both flu and COVID-19 at the same time. 13As soon as you know which illness you have, doctors can help with treatment. 14Coleman said that in normal times, laboratories can find out if you have the common cold. However, right now, most are focused on testing for COVID-19. 15One way to reduce your chances of having a problem with flu and COVID is to get vaccinated, experts say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is safe to get the flu vaccine and a third COVID-19 shot, or booster, at the same time. 16I'm Dan Friedell 17Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by Victoria Milko of The Associated Press. 18Are you wondering if you have one of the three illnesses? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 19____________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21symptom - n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present 22cough - n. a physical condition or illness that causes someone to cough 23fever - n. a body temperature that is higher than normal 24congestion - n. related to a part of the body : blocked with fluid (such as blood or mucus) 25pharmacy - n. a store or part of a store in which drugs and medicines are prepared and sold