The flu season is here again this year.
After Covid wiped out most of the other respiratory diseases in 2020 and 2021, a more familiar virus is returning this year at a rate officials haven’t seen in years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented high levels of both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this season.
Experts say the surge is the worst the country has faced since the 2009 swine flu epidemic.
Covid is still lingering too. In the United States, there are an average of 49,070 infections and 274 deaths each day.
In Los Angeles, officials Return of mandatory indoor masks amid the recent surge in cases.
Each of these respiratory viruses shares many symptoms and can easily be mistaken for one another.
However, they also have unique symptoms that distinguish them from each other.
Given that all three ailments can afflict people in similar ways, here’s a guide to knowing what’s behind a runny nose, cough, and soreness.
The graph shows: common cold, hay fever, Covid common symptoms (green ticks), occasional symptoms (orange circles), and never symptoms (red crosses)
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
The often-overlooked RSV swept the United States this fall, causing widespread epidemics among children and filling hospitals nationwide.
The CDC reports that 15,843 Americans contracted the virus in the week ending Nov. 19.
According to the CDC, it’s the most dangerous for young children, causing 300 to 500 deaths each year.
Respiratory viruses are also dangerous for adults over the age of 65, but more dangerous than Covid or the flu.
Major public agencies report that runny nose, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath are typical symptoms of the virus.
Children often suffer from fever and anorexia when infected, but these symptoms are more rare in adults with symptomatic respiratory syncytial virus cases.
Unlike other respiratory viruses, RSV does not cause serious stomach problems.
Symptoms such as loss of smell and taste, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are not usually associated with this condition.
People suffering from gastrointestinal problems are more likely to be suffering from respiratory illnesses other than COVID-19.
People with RSV may suffer from pain and fatigue during the day, but these symptoms are more rare, officials say.
In the most serious cases, young children can suffer from a lung infection called inflammation of the small airways of the lungs (bronchiolitis or pneumonia).
COVID
When the pandemic started, people were told to look out for Covid’s three warning signs: loss of taste or smell, persistent cough and fever.
But as new variants evolved and vaccines and repeated waves dulled the virus’ threat, the official list of symptoms continued to grow.
Officials are now aware of 12 symptoms related to Covid.
According to the UK ZOE Symptom Tracker, the most commonly reported signs of the virus are now a runny nose (66%), sore throat (65%), headache (64%), persistent cough (63%), I’m tired. (62 percent).
But Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King’s College London who led the study, recommends getting tested anyway, given the range of symptoms and the high prevalence of the virus.
The virus is still circulating in America, but not at about the same rate as in previous winters.
The country is recording about 50,000 infections daily, with half of the 100,000 recorded in early December 2021.
The most unique feature of Covid is the complete loss of smell or taste, called anosmia, rarely reported in colds and hay fever.
In July 2020, researchers at Harvard University published a study showing that the virus invades blood vessel cells and stem cells in the nose that power the nerves that transmit smells to the brain.
But because Omicron grows deep in the lungs and not in the nose, experts believe it’s unlikely that you’ll lose your sense of taste or smell.
Of the new symptoms listed for Covid, only diarrhea and nausea or vomiting are specific to the virus and are not caused by RSV or the common cold.
If you have these and a cough, it suggests it’s likely Covid.
Officials are telling people to stay home and avoid contact with others if they have symptoms of Covid.
cold
Colds can affect people all year round, but they are most prevalent in winter.
Two years of lockdown have reduced people’s immunity to colds. This has led to a surge in colds across the United States this year, with experts warning that the “unimmune” population is ripe for the virus to circulate.
The CDC reported 32,733 new flu cases in the week ending November 26. This is the highest total for the 2022 season.
Coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing are the most common symptoms caused by the hundreds of viruses that cause the common cold.
Aches and pains, fever, headache, malaise, and loss of appetite may also be telltale signs, but loss of taste and smell is also an occasional symptom.
The absence of puffy puffy eyes may be a sign that you are actually having a cold rather than a seasonal allergy.
On the other hand, if you have diarrhea, nausea, and shortness of breath in addition to your previous symptoms, it may indicate that you actually have Covid, rather than a simple cold.
Symptoms are caused when any of 200 different viruses cause inflammation of the lining of the nose and throat.
Cold weather isn’t actually the cause, but when the immune system is weakened by a drop in body temperature, the body becomes more susceptible to infections.
Boots UK Chief Pharmacist Mark Donovan told MailOnline:
“Consider taking pain relievers to relieve pain, or decongestant nasal sprays or decongestant tablets to relieve nasal congestion.”
