COVID-19 Testing During Flu Season

If you start experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is understandable to assume the worst and think that you have become infected with COVID-19. However, the emergence of COVID-19 does not mean that the flu and other respiratory diseases have been eliminated from the population. What makes matters even more confusing is the fact that COVID-19 symptoms can be quite similar to flu symptoms, especially for milder cases and the early stages of infection. While it is certainly important to get tested for COVID-19 if you are experiencing any possible COVID symptoms, it’s a good idea to get tested for the flu and other respiratory diseases as well since these diseases can be problematic in their own right. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about COVID-19 testing during flu season, including how COVID and flu symptoms compare to one another and how you can easily get tested for both with the help of St. Jude Labs.

COVID-19 and the Flu: A Symptoms Comparison

One unique and challenging attribute of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing COVID-19 is the fact that it can lead to a broad range of differing symptoms from one patient to another. Some COVID-19 patients barely experience any symptoms at all, while others develop a life-threatening condition and require round-the-clock treatment in an ICU. It’s not just the severity of symptoms that differs from patient to patient either; even the specific symptoms themselves can vary dramatically. Shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste and smell, headaches, nausea, fever/chills, runny nose/congestion, sore throat, diarrhea, and even delirium are just a few of the symptoms that COVID-19 can cause – and it’s a complete tossup which of these symptoms a person will experience when they become infected.

Unfortunately, many of the symptoms caused by COVID-19 are also symptoms that can be caused by the flu. Before COVID came along, fever, fatigue, body aches, and respiratory issues were all telltale signs of the flu. Now, it isn’t so easy to differentiate between the flu and COVID-19 without proper testing.

Should You Get Tested for COVID-19 if You are Experiencing Flu-Like Symptoms?

The fact that it is often quite difficult to differentiate between COVID symptoms and flu symptoms means that you should always get tested for COVID-19 anytime you are experiencing flu-like symptoms. With that said, it’s also important to get tested for the flu as well if your COVID-19 test comes back negative. Amidst all of the destruction that COVID-19 has caused, people often forget the fact that the flu is responsible for causing 140,00-710,00 hospitalizations and 12,000-52,000 deaths each year according to data from the CDC. While not as statistically life-threatening as COVID-19, the flu is still nothing to sneeze at, and it’s a good idea to seek medical treatment if you are diagnosed with the flu in addition to ensuring that you receive the flu vaccine each year.

Schedule an Appointment for COVID-19 and Flu Testing With St. Jude Labs

At St. Jude Labs, we are able to test for COVID-19, the flu, and a wide range of other respiratory diseases during a single testing appointment. In addition to letting you know whether or not you are infected with COVID-19, our state-of-the-art testing services also allow you to pinpoint the exact cause of your symptoms so that you are able to seek the appropriate treatment for whatever happens to be causing your illness. With the flu season still in full force, it’s important not to let fears of COVID-19 distract from the fact that the flu is also a concerning and potentially life-threatening disease that is continuing to spread through communities around the world. If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms and would like the peace of mind that comes with knowing for certainty what’s causing those symptoms, be sure to schedule a testing appointment with St. Jude Labs today.