You—or your baby—have physique aches, fever, and cough. Is it RSV, COVID, the flu, a standard chilly, or one thing else? And does it even matter anymore?
Sadly, it’s inconceivable to definitively inform the circumstances aside with out testing—even by cough, specialists inform Fortune. However the reply will nonetheless matter, in case your situation is extreme and a remedy plan is required.
What’s the distinction between COVID, RSV, the flu, and a standard chilly?
COVID, RSV, the flu, and customary colds all come from contagious respiratory viruses. What’s extra, extra flu-like viruses flow into as effectively, muddying issues.
Now within the fifth 12 months of the pandemic, we’re all too conversant in COVID, particularly given this winter’s JN.1 surge—the second largest wave the U.S. has seen thus far. For probably the most half, signs have remained the identical. Although there’s speak of the variant presumably resulting in extra extreme illness and extra GI signs like diarrhea, nothing has been confirmed.
Whereas COVID hospitalizations and deaths are up this winter, JN.1 itself might not be accountable. Relatively, the rise in extreme sickness might be as a consequence of waning inhabitants immunity. Nearly all of Individuals haven’t acquired the most recent COVID booster, in keeping with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Whether or not it’s from sickness or vaccination, antibody immunity to COVID solely lasts three to 6 months, on common.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus an infection, is a standard sickness that normally presents as a light chilly. Virtually everybody has been contaminated with it by age 2, in keeping with the CDC. However RSV isn’t gentle for everybody. The virus hospitalizes tens of hundreds of infants, younger kids, and aged adults annually within the U.S. And it kills between 6,000 and 10,000 aged adults within the U.S. yearly, in keeping with the nationwide public well being company.
Final 12 months, ranges of RSV, COVID, and flu rose early and dramatically on the similar time—a part of what some public well being officers known as a “tripledemic” that coincided with the lifting of pandemic restrictions. This 12 months, mixed ranges of respiratory diseases rose later than they did final 12 months. Whereas they haven’t peaked but, the present respiratory season is, thus far, extra gentle than final. Whereas ranges of RSV and flu could also be on the point of cresting, they haven’t fairly but. Some excellent news: Ranges of COVID have peaked for now, although the downward development might actually reverse at any second.
Whereas there are distinct variations between all 4 diseases, they will current in another way, relying on the affected person. That’s why it’s inconceivable to inform the them aside by signs alone.
Are RSV, COVID, flu, and chilly coughs totally different?
Sadly, each COVID and RSV may end up in various kinds of cough, together with dry, moist, wheezing, and the like, Dr. Dan Olson, affiliate professor of infectious ailments and epidemiology within the Colorado Faculty of Public Well being on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, tells Fortune.
Whereas kids with a decrease respiratory an infection like RSV are inclined to wheeze, such noises might solely be obvious to medical suppliers. The standard non-clinician mother or father normally received’t be capable of detect it, Dr. Ishminder Kaur, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious ailments at UCLA Well being, tells Fortune.
The flu normally results in a dry cough, and a chilly tends to trigger a slight cough. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to have any of the 4 circumstances with out cough.
How do RSV, COVID, chilly, and flu signs differ?
All circumstances can result in aches, issue respiration, fatigue, fever, lack of style or scent, cough, sore throat, and wheezing. Problem respiration is extra widespread in COVID, whereas wheezing is extra widespread in RSV, in keeping with the Nationwide Basis for Infectious Ailments (NFID).
Typically, nonetheless, there aren’t any distinctive scientific traits that may conclusively distinguish the flu from COVID from RSV from a chilly with out testing, specialists say. However there are some potential tells:
- Signs like headache, lack of style or scent, or sore throat “can point away from RSV,” Dr. Ali Alhassani, head of scientific at Summer time Well being, tells Fortune.
- GI signs like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can happen in COVID, typically in absence of respiratory signs, Dr. Ishminder Kaur, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious ailments at UCLA Well being, tells Fortune. Such signs normally don’t happen with RSV.
- Youngsters with COVID normally have a fever, whereas kids with RSV might not, she provides.
- Sore throat is extra widespread with COVID, in keeping with Kaur.
- These with COVID typically get conjunctivitis (redness of the eyes) and pores and skin rashes—signs not typically seen in RSV, she says.
- Physique aches, fatigue, and fever are commonest within the flu and COVID, in keeping with the NFID.
Does it matter which one I’ve?
With society functioning as if the COVID-19 pandemic is over, does it even matter any extra which sickness you, or a cherished one, has?
Sure, specialists say. That’s as a result of if remedy is required, a exact plan will should be formulated. Antivirals like Paxlovid can be found to kids and adults with COVID ages 12 and older. Whereas no particular remedy is offered for RSV, supportive care at a hospital could also be wanted in both case. (And by the best way, it’s attainable to have two or extra viruses on the similar time.) Antivirals like Tamiflu can be found to high-risk sufferers.
Can I check for COVID, flu, RSV, or chilly at house?
At-home testing kits can be found for COVID, after all. However whereas at-home assortment kits exist for RSV and the flu, none offers you ends in house. A visit to your physician or pressing care will probably be obligatory. (Your physician can run exams to see you probably have a virus that causes widespread colds. However such a check received’t be obligatory until you may have extreme signs.)
When ought to I fear about my sick baby?
Dad and mom ought to search care for his or her kids in the event that they witness any of the next, specialists inform Fortune:
- Quick respiration or issue respiration, which can appear like chest wall retractions and/or nasal flaring
- Head bobbing or pauses in inhaling younger infants
- Lethargy
- Dehydration (decreased urine output)
But when your baby’s signs aren’t resolving on their very own after a couple of days, “it might be time to consult with a pediatrician,” Alhassani advises.
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