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Table 1: Differential diagnosis and comparison of some
common cases
COVID 19 Influenza Common cold
thoroughly with water and soap or
Incubation period 2 - 14 days 1 - 3 days < 3 days use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Onset gradual sudden sudden • Social distancing, maintain at
least 1 to 2 metres between
Fever very common very common rare
yourself and others.
Dry cough very common very common Common (usually • Avoid going to crowded places.
(mild to severe) (mild to severe) mild, can be • If you need to leave your house,
productive) you are required to wear a mask.
Fatigue Common very Common rare or mild • Avoid touching your nose,
eyes and mouth.
Muscle aches Common very common Mild
• Make sure you and the people around
sneezing sometimes rare or mild very common you follow good respiratory hygiene

Nasal congestion rare or mild Common very common such as covering your nose and
mouth with a bent elbow or tissue
Headache sometimes very common rare or mild
when sneezing or coughing, and
sore throat sometimes sometimes very common disposing of used tissues immediately.
Diarrhoea sometimes sometimes rare • Stay at home and self-isolate
even with mild symptoms such as
shortness of breath Common rare Never
mild fever, cough and headache
until you are fully recovered. This
Diagnostics international recommendations is because human movement
Polymer+++ace chain reaction (PCr) and available data are followed: accelerates the spread of the
is currently the test being used to • Asymptomatic patients (with virus. If people do not move, the
confirm cases of COvID-19 infection. normal oxygen concentration) are virus does not move (spread).
It should be performed immediately treated at home (in isolation). • If you develop severe symptoms
once the person under investigation • Mild cases, i.e. those with low grade such as fever, cough and difficulty
(PuI) has been identified. The fever, sore throat, mild cough and breathing, seek medical attention
specimens used include: normal oxygen concentration immediately. First phone your
• Swab from the inside of are also treated at home. healthcare provider and follow
the nose and/or mouth • Moderate cases, especially their instructions. Avoid smoking
• Sputum those with other underlying (co- as it can increase your chances
• Bronchial and/or tracheal secretions. morbid) illnesses and low oxygen of contracting COvID-19.
All persons under investigation and concentration levels, are admitted
confirmed cases are reported as per to hospital and treated with Note that, if your symptoms worsen
regulations set by the Department supportive, antiviral treatment to the point that you believe you are
of Health and the National Institute and broad spectrum antibiotics facing a medical emergency, you
for Communicable Diseases (NICD). as these patients commonly should contact an emergency medical
have co-existing septicaemia. services provider. If you have suspected
Management • Severe cases are managed in or confirmed COvID-19, make them
There is currently no vaccine or ICu (with or without mechanical aware of that when contacting them.
specific medication for COvID-19 ventilation) and all the supportive,
and treatment is in the form of antiviral and anti-inflammatory given that this is a new virus, what
supportive care. Health professionals treatments are used. is known about the virus now is
implement practices for infection most likely to change in the future.
prevention and control whenever Prevention Be safe, be smart, and be kind.
dealing with PuI and laboratory The World Health Organization
confirmed cases. Many clinical trials has set out a number of guidelines
are still ongoing as we await the to be followed to help reduce References:
discovery of a cure and/or a vaccine. the spread of COvID-19 and it is 1. https://www.who.int/health-topic/
coronavirus
now a global recommendation to 2. https://www.cdc.gov/
The level of care/treatment all individuals. These guidelines, coronavirus/2019nCoV/index.html
depends on the severity of the and those of the south African 3. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
nCoV/hcp/infectioncontrol-faq.html
infection and the availability of Department of Health, are as follows: 4. https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/
resources. guidelines based on • Wash your hands regularly and article/S0195-6701(20)30046-3/fulltext

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