Why COVID-19 Is Nothing Like the Flu – and Why We Should Take It Seriously

Do you know what Ebola¹https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15606-ebola-virus-disease, HIV²https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/consumers/hiv_basics/covid_flu_hiv.htm#:~:text=Early%20HIV%20symptoms%20can%20feel,a%20case%20of%20the%20flu., H5N1 (avian flu), Covid19, Hepatitis C³https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/#:~:text=Hepatitis%20C%20often%20does%20not,feeling%20and%20being%20sick, Polio⁴https://www.cdc.gov/polio/about/index.html, Typhoid ⁵https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17730-typhoid-fever and the flu have in common? Our bodies often produce the same initial symptoms for all of them, also known as “ILI” or “influenza like illness” or in modern daily speak: flu-like symptoms. However – they all affect people vastly differently after the initial stage of our bodies response to them.

From the early days of the pandemicA global outbreak of a disease., COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. was often compared to the flu instead of what it really was due to a lot of confusion, unknowns (although we had plenty of chances to compare it to SARS), misinformation, disinformation, and it being politically inconvenient to truly address it and its potential long term impact. While both illnesses share some overlapping symptoms – feverA common symptom of infection marked by elevated body temperature., cough, fatigue – they are fundamentally different in how they affect our bodies, particularly in the long term. COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. isn’t just a respiratory virus; it’s a virus that disrupts multiple systems, wreaking havoc on the immune system, attacking the endothelial cells that line our blood vessels, and leaving lingering effects for months or even years after the initial infection. We have yet to know the impact on our bodies in another 5 or 10 years, whether it’s oncogenic (cancerous), or a number of other issues that might arise, but we do know that even in the short period of time we’ve been able to observe it en-masse – we want to avoid covid infections as much as feasibly possible.

Here’s a closer look at why COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. is so different from the flu, and why understanding its unique impact on the body is crucial for both prevention and treatment.

Dysregulation of the Immune System

One of COVID-19’s most concerning effects is its ability to dysregulate the immune system ⁶COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. disease and immune dysregulation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9568269/⁷Post-COVID Immune Dysfunction https://libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/Immune⁸Differential decline of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels, innate and adaptive immune cells, and shift of Th1/inflammatory to Th2 serum cytokine levels long after first COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39003594/. Unlike the flu, which typically results in an immune responseThe body's defense mechanism against pathogens. that clears the infection, COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. can lead to an immune system overreaction, sometimes called a “cytokine stormAn excessive immune response that can damage the body's own tissues..” This overreaction causes the body to release large amounts of inflammatory proteins, which, rather than controlling the virus, start to damage tissues and organs.

Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2The virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. (the virus causing COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness.) can leave the immune system impaired long after the initial infection. In some cases, people experience immune system “exhaustion,” making them more susceptible to other infections. Additionally, COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. can lead to autoimmune reactions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, further complicating recovery and sometimes leading to chronic health issues.

Attacks on Endothelial Cells and Blood Vessels

Unlike the flu, COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. is known to target the endothelial cells that line blood vessels throughout the body⁹Endothelial activation and dysfunction in COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness.: from basic mechanisms to potential therapeutic approaches https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-020-00454-7[.mfn]. This can lead to widespread inflammation and blood clotting, affecting organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Blood clots have been observed in COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. patients at alarming rates, with severe consequences, including heart attacks, strokes, and other life-threatening complications.

This vascular damage is part of what sets COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. apart from typical respiratory viruses like the flu. It highlights that COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. isn’t just a respiratory illness – it’s a multi-system disease⁹https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7305919/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7305919/. The damage to blood vessels can explain the wide range of symptoms seen in COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness., from brain fog and organ damage to long-term fatigue and muscle pain.

Long-Term Impact and Post-Acute Sequelae (Long COVID)

One of the most troubling aspects of COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. is its potential to leave people with debilitating symptoms long after the acute phase of the illness. Known as “Long COVIDPersistent symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19.,” these symptoms include severe fatigue, brain fog, muscle and joint pain, loss of smell and taste, and many other issues that can last months or longer. This is something rarely seen with the flu and underscores COVID-19’s unique and insidious nature. An estimated 400 million people worldwide are currently feeling the effects of long covidPersistent symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19.¹⁰Long COVIDPersistent symptoms following recovery from acute COVID-19. science, research and policy https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03173-6. Many people cast this off as unrealistic because surely governments would be doing something if that many people already were having long term issues from COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness.. The reality is that it’s been politically inconvenient to pretend it’s not the case. We’ve already seen large increases in many countries in people filing for disability, millions removed from the workforce, and other factors that very much support these varying studies.

COVID-19’s long-term effects are comparable to other viruses like polio, Ebola, and the original SARS which can also have lingering impacts even after recovery. For example, polio survivors may experience post-polio syndrome years later, and Ebola survivors often deal with joint pain, eye issues, and chronic fatigue, and there have been follow ups to the original SARS¹¹The long-term impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on pulmonary function, exercise capacity and health status https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20337995/ over a decade later with survivors still struggling with post conditions¹²SARS 10 years later: How are survivors faring now? https://globalnews.ca/news/404562/sars-10-years-later-how-are-survivors-faring-now/. COVID-19’s ability to cause similar long-term complications shows that it’s not just another seasonal illness, but a virus capable of lasting harm.

Comparing Acute Symptoms: COVID-19 vs. Other Viruses

Although COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. may start with flu-like symptoms – feverA common symptom of infection marked by elevated body temperature., cough, and fatigue – this similarity is superficial. Other viruses like polio, Ebola, and even the common cold can also begin with symptoms that resemble the flu, but these illnesses have vastly different impacts on the body after the initial symptom stage.

For instance:

• Polio: Often begins with flu-like symptoms but can progress to severe neurological damage and paralysis.
• Ebola: Early symptoms resemble a flu but quickly develop into hemorrhagic feverA common symptom of infection marked by elevated body temperature., organ failure, and often death.
• Mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr Virus): Can start with flu-like symptoms but sometimes leads to chronic fatigue and immune complications that persist for months or years.

COVID-19’s flu-like presentation in the acute phase is deceiving. It’s an early warning, not an indication that the virus is benign. This similarity in initial symptoms does not mean these viruses have similar effects on the body, and COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. has shown repeatedly that its impact can extend far beyond the respiratory system.

The Broader Implications for Public Health

Understanding that COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. is more than “just a bad flu” is essential for managing the ongoing impact of this pandemicA global outbreak of a disease.. Vaccination, masking, ventilationThe process of circulating air to improve indoor air quality., and public health measures remain important because they help prevent the virus from spreading and mutating, which could lead to even more severe variants.

COVID-19’s ability to disrupt multiple bodily systems and cause lasting damage means that ignoring it or downplaying its severity can lead to preventable suffering. Acknowledging that it’s more than just a respiratory virus opens the door for more targeted research, treatment, and rehabilitation approaches, especially for those dealing with long-term effects.

Resources for Further Reading

For those interested in exploring the research behind COVID-19’s unique impact, here are some trusted resources:

1. zotero Covid Library: https://www.zotero.org/groups/5006109/covidstudies/library
2. Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/pubtator3/

COVID-19A disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to respiratory illness. is a complex, multi-system disease that should not be compared to the flu. Its effects on the immune system, vascular system, and long-term health remind us that this virus requires serious, sustained attention. By continuing to learn about COVID-19’s impact and taking preventive measuresActions taken to reduce the risk of disease transmission., we can protect ourselves and those around us from its far-reaching consequences.