With the adjustment of epidemic prevention policies, there will no longer be extensive nucleic acid screening and mandatory measures to reduce population mobility. The likelihood of ordinary people being infected with the novel coronavirus will undoubtedly increase. So what are the differences between a cold, the flu, and the novel coronavirus?
The differences between a cold, the flu, and the novel coronavirus are as follows:
1. A common cold usually presents symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. It may also include a low to moderate fever, which lasts for about 1 to 3 days, and typically resolves within 3 to 5 days. A cold rarely causes whole-body symptoms like muscle aches or fatigue, and even if present, they are mild.
2. The flu often presents with a high fever that lasts for about 3 to 5 days. It is characterized by whole-body symptoms, including muscle aches, fatigue, and headaches.
3. Novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCoV), also known as COVID-19, primarily presents symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, and even difficulty breathing. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Currently, for the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, in addition to these symptoms, it is mainly based on epidemiological history, such as whether you have had contact with patients or suspected cases, or whether you have been to epidemic areas like Wuhan. After that, a chest CT scan and virus nucleic acid analysis are usually required for confirmation.
For home treatment, it is recommended to rest, increase nutrient intake, and drink plenty of water.
For mild cases, the following medications can be used: antipyretic and analgesic drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen for fever, muscle pain, and sore throat. It is generally recommended to take antipyretic drugs when the temperature is above 38.5℃, with an interval of 6 to 8 hours. If there is severe muscle pain even without fever, these medications can be used.
For cough, if it is dry cough, it can be treated with cough suppressants containing dextromethorphan or pholcodine. If there is phlegm, expectorants such as ambroxol, menthol eucalyptus enteric-coated soft capsules, and acetylcysteine can be taken to facilitate phlegm expectoration. Avoid using cough suppressants in this case, as they hinder phlegm clearance. If there is significant dry cough with severe airway reactivity, montelukast sodium tablets can be taken before bedtime to alleviate airway reactions.
For nasal congestion and runny nose, over-the-counter cold medications such as Bai Jia Hei, Ri Ye Bai Fu Ning, Tylenol, and Ganmaoling can be used to relieve these symptoms.
