How to tell if it’s a cold, the flu, COVID-19 or RSV

There’s much to look forward to at the start of winter. The holiday season starts winter off with a bang, while outdoor enthusiasts know their chances to hit the slopes and ski and snowboard are just beginning. Sports fans know January marks the return of the National Football League playoffs, while travelers who need a little winter warmth often designate February as a month to soak up some sun in a faraway locale. With so much to do each winter, it’s especially problematic when you come down with a cold. However, winter tends to be cold and flu season in many areas, as viruses tend to spread more easily when people spend more time indoors. In general, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have the flu. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations. The flu can have serious complications. Because colds and the flu share many symptoms it can be difficult, even impossible, to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests can tell if a person is sick with the flu. This winter, people may wonder if their sniffles indicate they have a cold, the flu or are a sign of something more serious, such as COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Anyone unsure of what’s behind a cold-like illness is urged to speak with their physician. In addition, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases notes that the common cold, flu, COVID-19 and RSV can present some similar symptoms, but also some unique ones. Though each illness is complex, the frequency with which some symptoms present may indicate which issue a person is dealing with.

Cold

· Aches: Sometimes

· Difficulty breathing: Rarely

· Fatigue: Sometimes

· Fever: Rarely

· Loss of taste or smell: Rarely

· Sore throat: Often

· Wheezing: Rarely

Flu

· Aches: Often

· Difficulty breathing: Rarely

· Fatigue: Often

· Fever: Often

· Loss of taste or smell: Rarely

· Sore throat: Sometimes

· Wheezing: Rarely

COVID-19

· Aches: Sometimes

· Difficulty breathing: Often

· Fatigue: Often

· Fever: Sometimes

· Loss of taste or smell: Sometimes

· Sore throat: Often

· Wheezing: Rarely

RSV

· Aches: Rarely

· Difficulty breathing: Sometimes

· Fatigue: Rarely

· Fever: Sometimes

· Loss of taste or smell: Rarely

· Sore throat: Rarely

· Wheezing: Often Individuals who are concerned by the presence of cold- or flu-like symptoms are urged to speak with their physicians. Though many instances of cold, flu, COVID-19 and RSV will go away without medical intervention, each condition can pose a significant health risk in certain situations.