While doctors worry about new versions of the coronavirus, there is also the possibility of another "war": That of two viruses at the same time.
Dr. Adrian Burrowes, family doctor, says "you can get the flu and Covid-19 at the same time and it would be catastrophic for the immune system".
While according to epidemiologist, Seema Yasmin, "infection at one time can make you more vulnerable to get sick with the other because the body weakens, defenses fall and this makes you more vulnerable to getting a second infection."
Both Covid-19 and the flu can attack the lungs, potentially causing pneumonia, lung fluid, or breathing problems, according to the CDC. Other illnesses include heart damage, inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle tissue.
Having two diseases at the same time increases the risk of long-term effects for each of the problems mentioned above.
However, it is too early to know exactly how much worse this dual crisis can be, compared to each virus on its own. There is still not much data on people having both diseases at the same time.
It is certain that both viruses together, can be more harmful to the lungs and cause more breathing problems. Doctors suspect that the potential for pneumonia would also be higher. The lungs cannot get enough oxygen into the bloodstream.
Read the following articles for more on the difference between the flu, coronavirus, allergies, etc.:
Source: CNN
