What Is 'Flurona,' and How Does It Affect You? What You Should Know, According to a Doctor in the Chicago Area

Doctors believe it's conceivable to be diagnosed with both the flu and COVID at the same time. Recently, cases of persons who tested positive for both viruses, a condition known as "flurona," have been described.

Despite some erroneous claims on the internet, the viruses have not joined to form a new disease. They're still two different illnesses.

"Flurona is a well-named sensation that can actually happen. The flu virus and the COVID-19 virus are sufficiently dissimilar to be considered distinct variations, and they can both exist at the same time "Cook County Health's chair of family and community medicine, Dr. Mark Loafman, said.

Here's everything we know about "flurona" thus far, as well as what to expect.

So far, have there been any instances in the Chicago area?

While Loafman is unaware of any occurrences in the Chicago region, he believes "there are certainly situations that have happened that we aren't aware of or haven't tested for."

"It doesn't appear to be frequent," he said in an interview Friday, "but I would anticipate it to grow more common when flu emerges."

Testing is becoming more common in the Chicago region, according to Loafman, "not just for COVID but for the entire respiratory panel," which might lead to the reporting of some "flurona" cases. However, he pointed out that such testing is often done only when a patient is unwell enough to require medical attention.

Is flurona going to make you sicker than COVID?

According to experts, the intensity of a dual infection can lead to more serious sickness, although this isn't always the case.

"Any form of co-infection might be severe or completely aggravate your symptoms," said Kristen Coleman, assistant research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Loafman concurred.

"It might be more severe when you're fighting two infections," he added, "yet the symptoms are so similar."

What are the flurona symptoms?

There's no obvious way to identify the difference between COVID and flu, according to Loafman, and no way to determine if you have both.

"The majority of those diagnoses are made clinically," he stated.

While the symptoms are essentially same, there are some minor distinctions.

"With flu, with influenza, the fever tends to be a bit higher, but that's subtle," he added. "So a 101, 102 [degree] fever can occur with COVID; the temperature can get a bit higher with flu, but it can also be mild." Coughs, headaches, stuffy nose... congestion, some shortness of breath - they are all extremely typical for both flu and COVID, and I don't believe most of us would recognize the difference."

Experts suggest that anyone who thinks they have a cold might actually have coronavirus, regardless of whether they were exposed or not. This is especially true when incidences of omicron rise across the country, leading to milder breakout infections.

In a news conference late last month, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said, "If you think it's a cold, if you think it's the flu, it's definitely COVID." "If you're not feeling well, please stay at home."

Cough, congestion, runny nose, and weariness appear to be prevalent symptoms with the omicron variety, according to Dr. Katherine Poehling, an infectious disease expert and member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, who told NBC News last month. However, unlike Delta, many people do not experience a loss of taste or smell.

According to Poehling, the data thus far is anecdotal and not based on scientific study. She also mentioned that certain symptoms could only be seen in particular groups.

Cough, weariness, congestion, and a runny nose are the most prevalent symptoms, according to CDC statistics, especially with omicron so far.

If you suspect you have flurona, what should you do?

The advice doesn't alter unless you're sick enough to seek medical care, according to Loafman.

"Follow the same advice we've given you all along," Loafman said. "Stay at home, stay away from others, and if you're sick enough, if you fit the requirements for assistance, the clinical setting will figure out which tests to conduct."

The diagnosis is especially helpful to patients who need therapy for the viruses since the viruses are handled differently, according to Loafman.

How can you tell whether you require medical assistance? There are certain warning indicators, according to Loafman.

"Shortness of breath, a fever that won't go away, odd chest discomfort" are all indicators that demand medical attention, according to Loafman. "The majority of the consequences are respiratory, such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing," says the doctor.

When is the flurona season the most dangerous?

Flu instances are projected to rise throughout the winter and early spring, according to Loafman, but each year is different.

"When it comes to the end of the year, every year is a bit different," he remarked. "At some time in the spring, it always burns out. But we still have three months, perhaps longer, until there are more instances, and the more there are, the more they spread and the more disease we see."

Meanwhile, omicron COVID cases in Illinois and around the country are at all-time highs. According to some analysts, the variant's popularity will climax this month.

The danger to those who are at a higher risk

According to the World Health Organization, the flu and Covid-19 are respiratory diseases that share symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache, and fatigue (WHO).

When an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs, or sneezes, droplets and aerosols are released.

In September, Dr. Adrian Burrowes, a family medicine physician and assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Central Florida, told CNN that being infected with Covid-19 and the flu at the same time could be "catastrophic to your immune system."

"I believe you'll see influenza and coronavirus co-infection. And I believe that as a result, you will see a higher rate of mortality "At the time, Burrowes stated.

According to Davidovitch, there isn't enough evidence to say whether people who have both the flu and Covid-19 are more likely to be hospitalized than those who only have one of the viruses.