The flu vaccine can also reduce the severity of the flu and the risk of serious complications. You can get an annual flu vaccine to help reduce your risk of the flu. Some drugs may help reduce the severity of COVID-19. Researchers are evaluating many drugs and treatments for COVID-19. Only one antiviral drug, called remdesivir, is currently approved to treat COVID-19. COVID-19 and flu treatmentsĪnother difference is that the flu can be treated with antiviral drugs. COVID-19 and flu complicationsĬOVID-19 can cause different complications from the flu, such as blood clots and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. More than 940,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S.īy comparison, during the 2019-2020 flu season in the U.S., about 38 million people had the flu and about 22,000 people died of the flu. as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So far, more than 78 million people have had COVID-19 in the U.S. The mortality rate also is higher with COVID-19 than the flu. Severe illness such as lung injury is more frequent with COVID-19 than with influenza. With COVID-19, you may experience loss of taste or smell. COVID-19 and flu spread and severityĬOVID-19 appears to be more contagious and to spread more quickly than the flu. Flu symptoms usually appear about 1-4 days after exposure. COVID-19 symptoms generally appear 2-14 days after exposure. Symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu appear at different times and have some differences. COVID-19 is caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, while influenza is caused by influenza A and B viruses. COVID-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses. But some people become seriously ill from the flu or COVID-19 and need to stay in the hospital.ĬOVID-19 and the flu have several differences. Many people with the flu or mild symptoms of COVID-19 can recover at home with rest and fluids. COVID-19 and flu complicationsīoth COVID-19 and the flu can lead to serious complications, such as: You can also have both diseases at the same time. Testing may be done to see if you have COVID-19 or the flu. Because COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms, it can be hard to diagnose which condition you have based on your symptoms alone. The signs and symptoms of both diseases can range from no symptoms to mild or severe symptoms. Nausea or vomiting, but this is more common in children than in adults.Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.COVID-19 and the flu have many signs and symptoms in common, including: