Is a dry cough COVID, RSV or the flu? Here are the most common symptoms
If it seems like everyone you know is sick, it’s because they are. It’s the Bay Area get hit with the triple threat virus.
COVID-19influenza and cases of respiratory syncytial virus are are growing throughout the region and nations, making it harder than ever to determine what’s causing your dry cough or runny nose. Infections cause similar symptoms, but it’s important to know how to tell them apart so you can get proper treatment and avoid spreading them to others.
“Distinguishing COVID from the flu can be difficult because the symptoms overlap so much,” said Dr. Brooke Bozick, a respiratory disease expert at the National Institutes of Health.
COVID-19 shares several common symptoms with the flu — including fever, dry cough, body aches and fatigue, according to center for disease control and prevention. But many known indicators of infection with the coronavirus have developed as new variants emerge and immunity from vaccination or previous infection increases.
“As our bodies become more experienced with COVID, symptoms are generally milder,” said Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF.
A runny nose, headache or sore throat could now precede a positive coronavirus test result with one of the many omicron shoots, while the flu usually starts with a cough. Signs of the common cold can include sneezing, a runny nose and watery eyes.
Some indicators of COVID reported during the earlier stages of the pandemic, such as loss of taste and smell, they are less common now.
People infected with the flu usually develop symptoms one to four days after infection. Symptoms of COVID-19 develop three to four days after infection, but some people may show signs as early as two days or even 14 days after infection.
RSV, which mainly affects children and the elderly, usually causes mild cold-like symptoms — such as a runny nose, coughing, or wheezing — from which most people will recover quickly. In infants younger than 6 months, the only signs of RSV may be irritability, decreased activity and appetite, and pauses in breathing, according to the CDC.
But RSV can also lead to more severe infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia, with such outcomes more likely among the youngest and oldest patients.
Testing to diagnose the specific virus is recommended, but here are some common symptoms to help you determine what you are sick with.
Common symptoms of the disease COVID-19
People with COVID-19 had a wide range of reported symptoms – from a runny nose to severe illness. According to the CDC, symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Here are some of the most common.
• Fever, chills
• Headache
• Cough, dry cough
• Body aches or muscle pains
• Fatigue
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath, shortness of breath
Common flu (flu) symptoms.
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly, and people who are sick may experience some or all of these symptoms.
• Fever, chills
• Headache
• Cough
• Body aches or muscle pains
• Fatigue
Symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
People infected with RSV usually show symptoms within four to six days of infection. Symptoms of RSV infection usually include the following.
• Fever (low grade)
• Headache
• Cough
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Sneezing
Symptoms of a common cold
Cold symptoms usually peak within 2 to 3 days and may include the following.
• Cough
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Sneezing
It is possible to contract more than one of the circulating viruses at the same time, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Department of Health and Human Services.
“We talk about these infections as independent actors, as if people who get one virus at a time can’t get another virus at the exact same time — or sometimes even worse, a bacterial infection — and that’s certainly not the case,” he said. “Some of the most difficult moments I’ve faced as a clinician are when children who are infected with one virus come down with another on top of it. They are not just additive. This is such a burden on the immune system that the situation often looks worse.”
You should seek emergency medical attention for more serious symptoms, whether they are caused by a single infection or a “superinfection.” These include difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new disturbance, inability to wake up or stay awake, or changes in the color of the skin, lips or nail beds,
Public health experts say vaccination is the first line of defense against avoiding symptomatic infection. Although flu and COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, there are no shots available to prevent RSV. “The power of vaccines to reduce not only the likelihood of becoming infected outright, but also the likelihood of severe disease is real,” Ghaly said.
Some people who get COVID-19 may experience persistent symptoms that last for weeks or even months after the initial infection.
To date, about 200 symptoms of the so-called long COVID have been identified with a list maintained by the CDC highlighting the 20 most frequently reported. These range from fatigue and palpitations to neurological complications and digestive disorders.
Residents of Bay Bay should follow known preventive measures to contain the spread of all viruses. This includes wearing high-quality masks when indoors, washing hands frequently and staying home when sick.
There are also several treatments available for those with symptoms, including Tamiflu for the flu and Paxlovid for those at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
“Getting treatment as quickly as possible if indicated is a key step,” Ghaly said.
Aidin Vaziri is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]
#dry #cough #COVID #RSV #flu #common #symptoms
