COVID-19 has turned into one of the biggest healthcare challenges in the world. COVID-19 disease causative agent (SARS-CoV-2 virus) causes acute pneumonia and has claimed the lives of more than one million people around the world. One of the challenges the physicians face is the similarities between the symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza infection. Both viruses cause severe infection of lungs, but influenza virus has different types and some types are highly pathogenic; even more than coronavirus. Children and pregnant women are more vulnerable to influenza virus and children may experience harsher symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms on the other hand are milder in pregnant women and children. Influenza although an important pathogen of respiratory tract is mostly a seasonal virus and is in this regard dissimilar to SARS-CoV-2 virus. 1918 Influenza pandemic which claimed the lives of about 50 million people, remains the worst outbreak human beings have ever experienced. Avian flu (H5N1) has created pandemics as well. At the present study, comparative study of clinical and laboratory symptoms and imaging features of coronavirus and influenza virus and also similarities and differences in their pathogenesis is carried out.

Keywords: Clinical Symptoms, Laboratory, Coronavirus Imaging, Influenza