“Cold vs. Flu vs. COVID-19,” they are this much different!
“Cold vs. Flu vs. COVID-19,” they are this much different!
  • 글·장인선 기자|번역·김성혜 인턴기자 (insun@k-health.com)
  • 승인 2020.04.14 14:55
  • 댓글 0
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There are various myths about novel coronavirus, but the virus mostly transmits into the body through respiratory organs or eyes, nose, mouth by hands.
There are various myths about novel coronavirus, but the virus mostly transmits into the body through respiratory organs or eyes, nose, mouth by hands (Image=ClipArt Korea).

In winter, a season of cold and flu, an emergence of novel coronavirus (nCoV) has led to more people suddenly fear even a mild cough. Experts stress that accurate information is more significant at a time like this. Cold, flu, and novel coronavirus, what are they different, and how should we prepare against them?

■Causative Viruses

First of all, it’s necessary to understand the causative viruses of the three infections.

200 viruses, including rhinovirus and adenovirus, are causative viruses of a cold. Because there is more than only one specific causative virus, no preventive vaccine exists.

Coronavirus is also one of the cold viruses that frequently appears among humans and animals. But this virus easily mutates, causing serious concerns.

“In an environment where bats, other mammals, and humans coexist, different kinds of coronavirus can mutate into new kinds that infect humans, causing the world’s pandemic like today,” Shin Sang-yup, former chairman of Korean Medical Institute’s academic committee explained.

Research results proved that nCoV is closely related to coronavirus originating from bats like SARS (transmits from bats to civets) and MERS (transmits from bats to camels).

On the other hand, only the influenza virus (classified as A, B, and C) is a causative flu virus, which can be prevented by vaccination and treated with antiviral drugs.

Cold, flu, nCoV infections appear to have similar symptoms, but they are all different. For nCoV infection, there have been asymptomatic cases in which even more careful observation is required (Image=ClipArt Korea).
Cold, flu, nCoV infections appear to have similar symptoms, but they are all different. For nCoV infection, there have been asymptomatic cases in which even more careful observation is required (Image=ClipArt Korea).

■Characteristic Symptoms

Symptoms are also slightly different. Cold slowly shows multiple, complex symptoms and that it’s difficult to know precisely when it started. Usually, nasal discharge or congestion, headaches, and mild fever appear. In rare cases, high fever or chills may develop, accompanied by conjunctivitis or diarrhea.

However, flu symptoms suddenly appear, which are physical symptoms, including a fever higher than 100℉, extreme fatigue, and muscle pains.

“The most problematic nCoV infection shows respiratory symptoms (fever higher than 99.5℉, cough, and phlegm) or pneumonia symptoms (yellow phlegm and severe cough) after about two to 15 days of the incubation period,” Lee Ji-Yong, director of the Department of Infectious Disease at HPlus YangJi Hospital commented, “However, we must carefully monitor the symptoms since asymptomatic cases have been recently observed.”

■Preventive Vaccines and Treatment Methods

There are differences in terms of treatment methods. “There are various types of causative viruses of a cold, and that is it impossible to develop preventive vaccines. Because symptoms of a cold are weak unlike flu, the treatment is allopathy,” Choi Cheon-Woong, a pulmonologist at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong explained.

Flu has a definite causative virus, and there are preventive vaccines as well as treatment with antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza.

Novel coronavirus infection is a newly emerged disease, which doesn’t have any vaccines or medicines yet. The only treatment method, for now, is injecting antibiotic or antiviral drugs depending on the types of symptoms a patient shows.

Korea National Institute of Health announced plans to urgent embark on infection treatment and vaccine development in February based on continued countermeasure research on the new and mutated viruses in Korea since the 2015 MERS epidemic.

Parents must demonstrate, teaching the importance and method of washing hands correctly to their children (Image=ClipArt Korea).
Parents must demonstrate, teaching the importance and method of washing hands correctly to their children (Image=ClipArt Korea).

■Health Management in Daily Life

Considering that flu spreads until early spring, if you haven’t received a vaccination, then you should as soon as possible.

“Vaccination cannot prevent flu perfectly, but when caught flu, it can reduce symptoms as well as the risk of deadly complications such as blood poisoning, soft tissue infections, and meningitis,”  pulmonologist Choi Cheon-Woong said. Because there are no vaccines or medicines against nCoV and that infectivity and transmission speed are expected to be higher than that of MERS, being careful is the best one can do.

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) advised that the best preventions against nCoV are constantly washing hands and wearing masks. Always wash hands under running water for 30 seconds starting from palms, between fingers, thumbs, and to under fingernails, and take hand sanitizers with you on the way out.

2019-nCoV infection is also known to spread virally via patients’ saliva, so masks must be worn. Indeed, a health mask that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety confirmed to be blocking fine particles should be used instead of regular cotton masks. KF80, KF94, and KF99 are typical but K80 is enough for daily use.

Besides, it is good to take care of the immune system, the body’s most important line of defense. Get plenty of rest and sleep, and take a balanced diet. Because the colder and drier the respiratory system is, the weaker it can fight against external viruses, it is recommended to drink lukewarm water and warm tea frequently.

Children who have weaker immune systems than adults and are poor at managing their health need high-maintenance from parents. Parents should teach their children the importance of correctly washing hands while demonstrating to them as well as check on them to see if they are wearing masks and mufflers on the way out.

“In particular, children sweat a lot on their backs when they sleep and kick their blankets away, but there are important acupuncture points related to the respiratory system on the back,” Kim Jung-Yeol, head director of Gangnam Hamsoa Oriental Medical Clinic stated, “wearing a sleeping vest on when sleeping or drying backs with a hairdryer before going out helps prevent a cold.”



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