GP pinpoints key difference between Covid and flu symptoms

Covid cases are on the rise - and some people have been extremely unwell

A GP has highlighted the differences between Covid and flu symptoms. Dr Helen Wall, a Bolton-based GP, stressed the importance of vaccination amidst a 'tripledemic' of RSV, Covid-19, and flu this winter.

With a new Covid variant proliferating in Europe and the UK, Dr Wall, clinical director of population health in Greater Manchester, reports increased illnesses correlating with the spread of the new XEC coronavirus variant. Some researchers have said that "XEC appears to have a growth advantage and is spreading faster than other circulating variants, suggesting it will become the dominant variant globally in the next few months".

According to Dr Wall's observations, recent Covid cases feel more flu-like compared to previous Covid strains. Symptoms like high temperature, cough, body aches, and headaches seem prevalent, and patients are getting 'wiped out'.

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"We could well be seeing the new Covid variant in practice," Dr Wall said. "At the moment, it seems to be a bit more flu-like than previous iterations of Covid, with a high temperature, a cough, aching body, headache."

She added: "Some of the symptoms in the past were more cough and cold symptoms, but at the moment, Covid does seem to be wiping people out," reports the Manchester Evening News.

Dr Wall has highlighted a crucial difference in distinguishing between flu and Covid symptoms. She noted that while many symptoms are common to colds and flu, those with the flu are often 'extremely unwell' and confined to bed.

"We're seeing an increase in respiratory infections, you see that every time the weather changes, and there's always a rise when the children go back to school," Dr Wall said. "But whether that's Covid is really difficult to say because a lot of the symptoms blur together with other illnesses that are prevalent at this time of year. Whether it's Covid versus flu is hard to separate.

"People who have the flu tend to be extremely unwell. Sometimes, people say they've got the flu but have actually got a bad cold.

"Generally, if you've got true flu, you're bed bound. With Covid, you might actually be quite well. You might be coughing and having other symptoms, but able to go about your business – and you might be unintentionally spreading it to people who are vulnerable."

In light of this, there is a plea for vaccination, with more than 2.8 million people in the north west eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine and 4.2 million eligible for the flu jab as winter approaches.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has stated that adults aged 65 and over, residents in care homes, and those with underlying health conditions from 6 months to 64 years are eligible for both the flu and Covid-19 vaccines. Frontline health and social care staff are also set to be offered these jabs, as well as those in care homes being provided the Covid-19 vaccine specifically.

Dr Wall emphasised the importance of vaccination against what is termed the 'tripledemic' of winter illnesses. Alongside the usual Covid and flu vaccines, this year sees the introduction of the new RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) jab.

There has been a decline in the number of people receiving their winter vaccinations specifically in Greater Manchester, which presents a concern. "We only know for sure about the cases that we see in hospitals, involving the sickest people, because that's where most of the testing is happening," Dr Wall explained.

"There may be a milder version circulating in the community which people don't know about because they've not tested, that's the difficulty we're dealing with."

Given the drop in vaccination uptake in Greater Manchester, especially for Covid, efforts are being intensified to ensure effective immunisation coverage.

The NHS advises that several groups should receive the flu vaccination:

- Everyone aged 65 years and over

- Individuals under 65 with certain medical conditions, including children and babies over six months of age

- All pregnant women

- All children aged two and three years (provided they were aged two or three on 31 August 2024)

- All primary school children

- Some secondary school children (Years 7 to 11)

- Care home residents

- Carers

- Those living with people who are immunocompromised

- Frontline health and social care workers

Those who are eligible for an autumn Covid booster include: 

- residents in a care home for older adults

- all adults aged 65 years and over

- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women

 frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults

- pregnant women

- all children aged two or three years on 31 August 2024

- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)

- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)

- all children in clinical risk groups aged from six months to less than 18 years