WASHINGTON — With COVID-19, the flu, and RSV cases on the rise, here are the signs and symptoms you should look out for to differentiate between the three.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common respiratory virus that causes mild cold-like symptoms. According to the CDC, most people begin showing symptoms within four to six days after being infected.
Symptoms:
- Runny nose
- Decrease appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
The symptoms tend to appear in stages, not all at once. In most cases, people recover within a week or two. In severe cases symptoms can worsen, causing people to develop bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and pneumonia.
For infants and toddlers, there is an RSV immunization shot. For adults over 60 years old, there is an RSV vaccine.
For those who fall between the age range, there isn’t a definitive way to prevent getting infected. The CDC recommends following the same preventative measures put into place during COVID:
- Wash your hands.
- Stay home when you’re feeling sick.
- Don’t touch your face with dirty hands.
- Avoid close contact with others while you’re sick.
A new strain of COVID was discovered in 2023, but doctors are only reporting one-quarter of the hospitalizations compared to 2022. They’re attributing COVID vaccines, tests, and treatments as the helping guide for keeping people out of hospitals.
That doesn’t mean that people aren’t still getting infected.
Here are the COVID symptoms to look out for.
- Fever and 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
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
Symptoms appear 2-to-14 days after exposure.
A rise in flu infections has also been plaguing the country. Signs of the flu can mimic COVID. Unlike COVID symptoms, flu symptoms appear instantly.
Symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Everyone over the age of 6 months is eligible for the flu vaccine shot. For those infected, there are prescription pills that can be taken to treat the flu.
All three illnesses are preventable through vaccines, social distancing, and proper hygiene.
RELATED: Yes, a rapid at-home test is available in the U.S. that detects COVID-19 and the flu | VERIFY
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