Flurone is a term currently used to refer to cases in which a patient has the flu and Covid-19 simultaneously. Flurone, therefore, is not a new disease, but a popular term created to name this double infection.
Although studies are still being conducted on the subject, it is believed that the infection by the virus influenza and by SARS-CoV-2 at the same time does not lead to the aggravation of these diseases. To prevent flurone, it is essential to adopt already known measures for the prevention of covid-19 and flu, such as vaccination, avoid agglomerations and wash your hands frequently.
Read too: Why should we get vaccinated every year against the flu?
Flurone summary
- Flurona is the name given to the simultaneous infection by the flu virus and the covid-19 virus.
- The word flurona comes from the junction of flow, which means “flu” in English, and rona, suffix derived from “coronavirus”.
- Flurona is a popular term and it is not a new disease.
- To prevent flurone, it is important, among other measures, to get vaccinated, avoid agglomerations, make use of mask and wash your hands.
What is fluorone?
Flurona is a popular term used to refer to a dual infection caused by influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. This means that the patient with flurone is, at the same time, with the flu and with covid-19. The term was created from the junction of flow, which means “flu” in English, and rona, suffix coming from “coronavirus”.
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What is flu?
flu is a viral disease caused by the influenza virus and that affects the respiratory tract, which can cause from mild to severe cases that can lead to death. It causes symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, cough and loss of appetite. It is important to highlight that flu and cold are different diseases., the cold being caused by other types of viruses, such as rhinovirus.
What is covid-19?
Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and who had his first case diagnosed in December 2019, in China. The virus can cause from asymptomatic to severe conditions that can lead to death. Symptoms vary from patient to patient and include coughing, headache, loss of smell or taste, and tiredness.
Read too: 10 ways to prevent colds and flu
Is Flurona a New Disease?
Flurona, as we have seen, is a popular term used to refer to cases in which the patient has both the flu and covid-19. It is not, therefore, a new disease. and should not be viewed as such. Some researchers even believe that the use of the term is inappropriate, as it generates this confusion, and it is recommended to say only that it is a case of co-infection.
Although it seems unusual for a person to have two viral diseases at the same time, infections with more than one causative agent simultaneously are more frequent than one might imagine. An example of this is patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B and/or C. Another example is the case of individuals who present at the same time diseases such as dengue,zikaand chikungunya.
Since covid-19 and the flu have the same form of transmission, no wonder cases of co-infection.At the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, stricter measures were adopted to prevent the disease from spreading. Thus, diseases such as the flu were also prevented. With the loosening of these measures, the flu returned to affect the population, which made the cases of co-infection appear.
Is being on flurone serious?
Many people wonder if a person with the flu and covid-19 at the same time has an increased chance of developing serious cases of these diseases. However, stillit is not possible to make this claim.
So far, it is believed that the double infection does not cause a more serious condition, but studies are being carried out so that this question can be definitively answered. For this, one of the fundamental points is the correct diagnosis of these coinfections.
Check it out on our podcast: deadly flu
How do I know if I have fluorone?
A case of flurone can only be confirmed from the carrying out tests that detect the flu and covid-19. Examinations such as RT-PCR and antigen tests are used for such evaluation. It is worth noting that the patient can undergo specific tests for covid-19 and flu or perform the called viral panel, a test that analyzes the presence of different viruses, at the same time, in the individual.
Many cases of flurone may go undiagnosed. This is due to the fact that the patient often has flu-like symptoms and only undergoes specific tests. During the pandemic of coronavirus, for example, it is common that only the exam to diagnose covid-19 is done. If the result is positive, other tests are usually not requested. As a result, the number of co-infection cases remains underreported.
How can I protect myself from flurone?
As stated initially, flurone is not a new disease, but a condition in which the patient tests positive for covid-19 and flu. Both diseases are transmitted mainly through droplets containing the virus that the patient eliminates when coughing, sneezing or even talking. To protect yourself from both covid-19 and the flu, it's important to:
- get vaccinated against flu and covid-19;
- wear masks;
- avoid agglomerations;
- avoid contact with sick people;
- wash your hands frequently, using soap and water (if this is not possible, you should resort to alcoholic preparations);
- do not touch the mouth, nose and eyes with unsanitized hands;
- do not share personal objects, such as cups and cutlery.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
