Cough, Cold, Flu & Other Respiratory Illnesses
For many people, a mild cough, runny nose, congestion, or sore throat don't even register as healthcare concerns beyond a mild annoyance. Sometimes these symptoms go away on their own in a few days, as with the common cold. Sometimes they get more severe and are accompanied by other symptoms as a result of influenza (flu), RSV, or COVID-19 infection. If you're vaccinated for any of those three conditions (or just very lucky), your symptoms might be mild enough that you don't know the difference and assume you just had a cold. Unfortunately, not knowing can lead to the spread of infectious disease to people who are at greater risk of complications, such as infants, adults over age 65, residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, or people with disorders such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or obesity.
If you're experiencing upper respiratory symptoms and aren't sure whether you have a more serious condition that may be infectious, it doesn't hurt to call your doctor or healthcare provider and get tested, or take an over-the-counter test if one is available. See below for a list of symptoms of each of the common upper respiratory illnesses, from the common cold to influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
Symptoms
Below is a list of symptoms by illness. Keep in mind that many of these symptoms overlap, and that you may not have all of the symptoms of a given illness. If you're unsure, you can take an over-the-counter test, or talk to a doctor or healthcare provider to get advice or additional testing, especially if you know that one of these conditions has been going around in your school, work, or community.
Common Cold
- Runny nose or nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Mild body aches
- Fever
Influenza
- Runny nose or nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Muscle or body aches
- Fever / feeling feverish or chills
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Vomiting (more common in children)
- Diarrhea (more common in children)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Runny nose or nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Decreased appetite
COVID-19
- Runny nose or nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Muscle or body aches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- New loss of taste or smell
Treatment & Management
First, it's important to know when to seek emergency care, regardless of which condition you have. If you experience any of the below symptoms, you should call 911 or go to your local emergency facility:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Lips, nail beds, and skin appear pale, gray, or blue
- Severe muscle pain or weakness
- Seizures
- Not urinating (very poor hydration)
- Worsening of medical conditions
- Fever above 104 degrees that is not controlled by fever-reducing medicine
Otherwise, each of these conditions are treated a little differently, depending on severity. Some instances of each will simply resolve on their own in a couple of days with rest and consistent hydration, but they can lead to more severe conditions or infections, so it's important to know your risk factors and seek help from a healthcare provider if needed. For the common cold, you should rest, drink lots of fluids, and consider taking over-the-counter medications to help manage your symptoms. For the flu, you should do the same thing, but there are also antiviral drugs available if you need them; you should talk to your doctor if you are at higher risk for flu complications, so you can get started on treatment as soon as possible.
RSV is very also similar to the common cold in how it is managed. Antiviral medications are not usually recommended, so you'll want to manage your symptoms with over-the-counter medications that are safe for you to take. Ask a doctor if you're unsure. Be sure to drink lots of fluids, and if your children are ill, be sure that any medications you give them are safe for children and dosed appropriately for their age and body weight.
For COVID-19, there are now antiviral medications for people at high risk or with severe infections. COVID-19 should be treated right away for people at high risk for complications. Other treatment options exist for patients who are hospitalized or experience complications. It's important to stick with approved medications for COVID-19, as people have been harmed or even died after using unapproved medications for COVID-19, even when those medications are approved or prescribed for other uses. Always consult your healthcare provider about medications for COVID-19. You can use over-the-counter medications for fever or congestion to help manage symptoms, as long as they don't interfere with other medications you may be on.
Prevention
There are vaccines for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, but not for the common cold. Influenza vaccines are seasonal, so they should be administered once a year after the age of 6 months old, unless you are at high risk for complications from the flu vaccine. RSV vaccines are for infants, pregnant women, or adults aged 60 and older. COVID-19 vaccines are available for people after the age of 6 months old, but recommendations vary depending on your age, risk factors, and the type of vaccine available, so it's a good idea to discuss it with your healthcare provider or pharmacist prior to getting vaccinated. Unlike influenza, COVID-19 is not a seasonal vaccine. It follows a specific schedule for age and type of vaccine, though recommendations may eventually change as it is still early in the post-pandemic healthcare landscape.
Beyond vaccination, however, there are many things you can do to help lower your risk of infectious diseases, and help lower your risk of transmitting it to others. Diligent hand-washing and sanitizing helps prevent the spread of disease, especially if exposed to people with symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above for any of these infectious diseases, remember to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often, sanitize surfaces you touch, and wear a mask in public until your symptoms have fully resolved and you are no longer infectious. Self-isolation and staying a safe distance (usually 6 feet) away from others who are not sick are also good ways to ensure that you expose as few others as possible to the viruses that cause cold, flu, RSV, and COVID-19.
Risk Factors
Each of these illnesses also have overlapping risk factors for complications, so we'll list them all together here. You might be at higher risk for complications of any of the above illnesses if you are:
- Young children
- Older adults
- People with weakened immune systems
- People with disabilities
- Pregnant
- People with existing chronic disease (heart disease, kidney disease, obesity, liver disease, diabetes)
- People with asthma or COPD
Community Resources
If you have one of these conditions and aren't sure which one, or even if you're just experiencing enough discomfort to want some reassurance and advice, reach out to your primary care provider. They can help you get tested for flu, RSV, or COVID-19, and get you started on anti-virals where appropriate. There are even combined tests for flu and COVID-19 available in some places. You can also buy some over-the-counter tests at your local pharmacy.
Call us today at 907-455-4567 to schedule an appointment!
