{"id":24935,"date":"2021-11-30T19:12:29","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T19:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/extraordinary\/?page_id=24935"},"modified":"2022-11-10T18:27:04","modified_gmt":"2022-11-10T18:27:04","slug":"cold-flu-or-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/extraordinary\/cold-flu-or-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold, flu or COVID-19?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Take care this flu season.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cold, flu or COVID-19?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Start your journey to feeling better with the symptom checker.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Use this chart to learn more about what your symptoms might mean so you can make a plan and start feeling better soon.<\/p>

People have different levels of severity of symptoms, and in the case of COVID-19 you could be asymptomatic (no symptoms at all). This chart can help guide you toward the next steps in seeking care, but the only way to confirm if you have the flu or COVID-19 is by taking a test.<\/p>

While the flu is treatable, it is not to be underestimated and we strongly encourage getting this season\u2019s flu shot to help minimize your chance of getting the flu or getting severely ill from the flu.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Flu and COVID-19 Test FAQs<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre at-home COVID-19 tests reliable?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Rapid, at-home tests are accurate about 80% of the time. That means the test does not pick up evidence of the virus in every one out of five infected people. This inaccurate result is known as a false negative. Learn more about at-home COVID-19 tests here<\/a><\/span><\/span>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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A negative result from a rapid, at-home test doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have COVID-19, especially if you\u2019re feeling sick and\/or have been in close contact with someone who has received a positive COVID-19 test result.<\/p>

The omicron variant is highly contagious, so if you were in close contact with someone who tested positive and you have symptoms, it\u2019s possible that you have COVID-19. Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth<\/a><\/span><\/span>, suggests that it\u2019s safest to assume you have COVID-19 and should follow safety protocol.<\/p>

If you get a positive result from an at-home test, you most likely have COVID-19. False positive results with at-home tests are rare.<\/p>

Read more here about COVID-19 at-home tests here<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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There is no new virus called flurona. The term flurona describes when a person is infected with both the COVID-19 and flu viruses at the same. A simultaneous infection is rare, but possible.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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If you have symptoms COVID-19, the flu or just a cold, stay home so you don\u2019t infect others. If you must go out, wear a mask in crowded and\/or indoor places. People who are sick should not go to work, the gym, fly on a plane or attend social gatherings. If you have severe symptoms, seek immediate attention at an urgent care, emergency department or by calling 911.<\/p>

Due to high volumes of individuals seeking testing, it may be difficult to schedule a flu test quickly. Dr. Barron recommends asking a provider for their advice. She also encourages discussing the option of starting Tamiflu\u2122 (a prescription medicine used to treat the flu) if a PCR or at-home test comes back negative. However, she specifies that individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those who have autoimmune disorders or medical conditions that put them at high risk of infection, should communicate with their doctor and will likely need to have a flu test. When in doubt, speak with a provider. If you are uncomfortable going into a medical facility, UCHealth has 24\/7 Virtual Urgent Care<\/a><\/span><\/span> appointments and Virtual Visits<\/a><\/span><\/span> with a primary care provider.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Experiencing symptoms?
\nCheck out these resource pages to learn more.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Get more information about symptoms and treatment for the common cold, flu or COVID-19.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The latest news in cold, flu and COVID-19.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe flu, a cold or COVID-19? What to do if you\u2019re feeling sick.\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEverything you need to know about rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLet\u2019s talk about TAMIFLU\u2122.\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Who gets the flu?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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People of all ages can get the flu, which is why preventative measures like hand washing, getting an annual flu shot and staying home when sick are especially important.\u00a0See the most up-to-date flu data and trends on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s (CDC) Weekly U.S.<\/span><\/p>

Influenza Surveillance Report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Is the flu that big of a deal?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The flu may just be a virus, but it is highly contagious. Getting the flu can make you feel miserable and can lead to other complications like pneumonia, which can make even healthy people very sick. The flu can result in the need to be hospitalized and even death, but getting vaccinated greatly lowers these chances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Find the right care option for you.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Feeling under the weather? We\u2019re here to support you close to home, work, school or while you stay at\u00a0home.<\/p>