Is It COVID, Flu, or RSV?

Consult your doctor to determine which respiratory infection you may have. COVID-19, influenza, or RSV can be diagnosed using a combination of blood, nasal swabs, and breathing tests. The diagnosis is crucial to treat the virus and reduce its transmission to others.

• A combined swab test for COVID-19, flu, and RSV is available at most testing centers.
• This test minimizes the need for several other tests or medical visits and can help you get treated faster.
• During the peak flu season, the co-testing strategy increases testing capacity and shortens the time to a diagnosis.

Respiratory infections affect the respiratory system, which includes the nose, sinuses, throat, airways, and lungs. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Symptoms of viral infections, such as COVID-19, flu, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could be mild but may be severe if not treated or managed promptly.

Influenza symptoms

The flu is a respiratory infection caused by one of the four major influenza virus strains (A, B, C, and D). It causes the following symptoms:

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Fever (103°F or 104°F)
• Chills
• Nausea or vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
• Loss of appetite

Treatment and management of flu symptoms

• Healthy people should get enough rest, drink optimal fluids and be physically active.
• Those with underlying health conditions or who are older than 60 years may require further medical attention. Some symptoms can be relieved with over-the-counter drugs.
• Studies report that flu vaccinations can help avoid severe symptoms and protect against certain strains and slow the transmission of the virus to others.

Do the following to avoid getting the flu:

• Wear a mask
• Get vaccinated
• Wash hands often
• Adopt social distancing

RSV symptoms

RSV infects the lungs and airways. Almost 90 percent of children are infected with RSV before they turn two years old. RSV generally causes upper respiratory infection and mild cold-like symptoms in most people.

RSV can cause serious, life-threatening lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Older people, infants, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of severe RSV infection.

RSV is more likely to cause serious infections in infants, especially those born prematurely or with lung or heart disorders. Common RSV symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Decreased appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing (the most noticeable sign in children)

Treatment, management, and prevention of RSV symptoms

• With plenty of rest and hydration, the immune system should be able to combat RSV. However, in the event of a serious illness, doctors can prescribe an authorized treatment.
• RSV spreads by airborne droplets breathed from an infected individual. The transmission of RSV can be minimized by using masks, washing hands frequently, and avoiding close contact.
• There is no RSV vaccine is presently available.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

SARS-CoV-2, which gained widespread attention in late 2019 and early 2020, is the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other coronavirus strains have triggered lesser outbreaks in recent years. In each of those situations, the diseases were serious and extremely infectious, necessitating the involvement of government entities and specialists.

Usually, coronaviruses cause mild, common colds in less-known situations. Because each coronavirus strain seems unique, generalizing those symptoms might be challenging.

The most common COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Some people get severely unwell, whereas others have moderate or no symptoms. Although most people develop symptoms within a week of exposure to the virus, symptoms might appear 2 to 14 days later. COVID-19, unlike other viruses, can cause symptoms in systems other than the lungs and lead to long-term problems (rare).

Treatment, management, and prevention for COVID-19 symptoms

• In mild to severe cases, resting, drinking fluids, and treating symptoms will help your body fight the infection. However, if breathing gets difficult, seek medical attention.
• Keeping up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations. According to research, in addition to reducing COVID-19 infection and reinfection, authorized vaccinations can help prevent severe illness.

The infection may get serious, necessitating hospitalization. Timely diagnosis of symptoms is crucial.

Both flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, making it difficult to distinguish between them. The distinguishing feature is that a person develops COVID-19 symptoms after a few days of infection (could be about 14 days). This period is significantly longer than the flu and RSV virus.

Influenza symptoms appear one to four days after exposure. Furthermore, when a person has COVID-19, their sense of smell and taste is temporarily compromised. This is a distinct sign of COVID infection. The person’s cough may worsen and feel shortness of breath.

RSV is especially harmful to newborns and older people. Keep an eye out for more serious signs in the newborn, such as fatigue, rapid breathing, and blue fingernails.

There is no scientific basis for the terms tripledemic or tridemic. It simply refers to a possible outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, and COVID-19 in hospital emergency rooms.

Health experts predict an increase in respiratory diseases around festivals because more people travel and assemble. Experts are concerned about the convergence of influenza, RSV, and coronavirus, predicting a tripledemic or tridemic. Health experts advise individuals to get vaccinated and take measures before the forthcoming holidays.

Doctors in the United States are warning that an increase in RSV infections is coinciding with a spike in COVID-19 transmission and an earlier-than-usual flu season, indicating the prospect of a tripledemic of respiratory diseases this winter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges doctors to do the following:

• Administer people with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
• Utilize diagnostics to help manage people
• Start treatments as soon as possible