As flu season begins during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients will continue to present with symptoms of respiratory illness. In the 2019-2020 flu season, an estimated 40 million Americans had the flu. With COVID-19 cases beginning to increase again, COVID-19 and flu co-infection is a possibility and should be taken into consideration during diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 are especially similar.
| SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) | Influenza | |
| Fever | X | X |
| Cough | X | X |
| Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing | X | X |
| Headache and muscle aches | X | X |
| Fatigue | X | X |
| Loss of taste or smell | X |
In patients with overlapping symptoms, PathGroup’s molecular testing options can be used to properly diagnose respiratory illnesses allowing healthcare providers to treat patients appropriately. Molecular testing options for the most common respiratory illnesses include:
- Influenza Type A/B, Molecular (Test Code: INFLUAB)
- Influenza A and B
- Influenza A, subtype H1
- Influenza A, subtype H3
- Influenza A/B and RSV (Test Code: RVDP)
- Influenza A and B
- RSV
- Respiratory Virus Panel, Molecular (Test Code: RVPPCR)
- Influenza A and B
- Influenza A, subtype H1
- Influenza A, subtype H3
- Adenovirus
- Human metapneumovirus
- RSV A and B
- Parainfluenza 1,2,3 and 4
- Rhinovirus
- SARS-CoV-2, RNA (Test Code: COVID19)
- Influenza Type A/B and SARS-CoV-2 (Test Code: FLUCOVID) **Will include after Dec. 7**
- Influenza A/B
- SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)