Medical doctors warn in opposition to evaluating COVID-19, seasonal flu whereas youngsters await vaccine
Whereas the coronavirus and the seasonal flu share some related signs, well being consultants say the 2 viruses shouldn’t be in contrast, particularly with the back-to-school season underway.
“COVID-19 and the seasonal flu shouldn’t be in contrast to one another,” Dr. Brad Younggren, the chief medical officer at 98point6 Inc. – a text-based major care app, instructed Fox Information.
“The fatality fee for COVID-19 is between 10 and 50 occasions larger than that of seasonal flu,” Younggren defined. “Moreover, COVID-19 is considerably extra contagious than seasonal flu. Whereas sufferers with the seasonal flu infect, on common, roughly 1.Three different individuals, these with the brand new Delta variant of COVID-19 infect on common between 6 and 9 different individuals, based on CDC knowledge.”
RISING KIDS’ HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS STIRS ALARM AHEAD OF SCHOOL YEAR
Though individuals of all ages have proven concern over the pandemic and rising coronavirus variants, kids beneath the age of 12 are susceptible to COVID-19 an infection since vaccines are nonetheless present process testing for this age group.
Sources who work for the Meals and Drug Administration confirmed to Fox Information that the well being company anticipates it’s going to weigh in on increasing authorization for coronavirus vaccines to youngsters beneath 12 round September.
By that point, many colleges all through the U.S. will probably be reopened for in-person studying – a undeniable fact that has mother and father and docs nervous about coronavirus an infection charges rising in kids.
Youngsters beneath the age of 12 are at the moment susceptible to contracting COVID-19 since vaccines are nonetheless in growth for this age group. (iStock)
In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics, almost 4.Three million kids have examined constructive for COVID-19 for the reason that begin of the pandemic, which makes up roughly 14.3% of the confirmed infections within the U.S.
As of Aug. 5, the general fee of an infection in kids is 5,703 instances per 100,000, the AAP stories.
PEDIATRICS GROUP URGES FDA OK OF COVID-19 VACCINES IN YOUNGER KIDS
The CDC is at the moment advising kids and college officers to persistently put on face masks no matter vaccination standing, social distance, wash palms and contemplate vaccination when pictures change into accessible as methods to cut back the unfold of COVID-19. The well being company additionally recommends college methods put enhanced cleansing and air flow protocols in place along with coronavirus testing and make contact with tracing.
Upon suspected flu or COVID-19 instances, Dr. Chelsea Johnson says individuals ought to seek the advice of a doctor who can appropriately establish signs. As a result of overlap in signs, the CDC advises testing to verify diagnoses.
“COVID-19 shares signs with the flu, which shares signs with the frequent chilly,” Johnson, the affiliate lead of pediatrics at Okay Well being – a digital major care platform, instructed Fox Information. “For somebody who doesn’t have in depth medical coaching and doesn’t know what they’re searching for, it could actually really be harmful to depend on a search on the web, and trigger pointless fear.”
HOW CORONAVIRUS DIFFERS FROM FLU: SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR
Whereas healthcare professionals have a neater time figuring out the variations between COVID-19, the flu and the frequent chilly, she famous similarities together with fever, physique aches, cough and fatigue.
“Bother respiratory is all the time a purple flag for COVID,” Johnson warned.
Whereas the novel coronavirus and the seasonal flu share similarities, well being consultants say the 2 viruses shouldn’t be in contrast, particularly with the back-to-school season underway. (iStock)
Different distinct COVID-19 signs embody a lack of odor and style and gastrointestinal points, based on Younggren.
“The entire listing [of COVID-19 symptoms] is lengthy and diverse, with similarities to chilly and flu. Frequent human coronaviruses normally trigger gentle to reasonable upper-respiratory tract diseases, together with the frequent chilly,” he added. “It’s even attainable to have the flu, in addition to different respiratory diseases, and COVID-19 concurrently.”
Further similarities between COVID-19 and the seasonal flu can embody sinus congestion, drainage and a sore throat, however Younggren warned: “COVID-19 may cause extra extreme signs like bother respiratory and dry cough, extra usually resulting in pneumonia and hospitalization.”
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Dr. Mark Cameron, an affiliate professor of quantitative well being sciences at Case Western Reserve College, instructed Fox Information the long-term results of COVID-19 are nonetheless being researched, which needs to be purpose sufficient for the general public to stay cautious.
In his personal phrases: “The truth that COVID-19 variants are persistently evolving and altering how they infect, who they infect, and the way dangerous the outcomes could be is purpose alone to be cautious of evaluating a illness we all know fairly effectively year-over-year, just like the flu, to a illness we’re nonetheless desperately attempting to know and management.”
As mother and father watch for the FDA to approve coronavirus vaccines for kids beneath the age of 12, Dr. Vino Palli, the founder and CEO of MiDoctor Pressing Care, instructed Fox Information that children can get vaccinated for the seasonal flu.
Fox Information’ Kayla Rivas contributed to this report.
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