Respiratory illnesses are not unusual in the fall and winter months in the United States. Most people develop a fever, stuffy nose, or cough during this time of year.
Continue reading about the differences between the flu, COVID-19, and RSV in terms of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Each year in the United States, between 9. 3 and 41 million people get the flu. Although most cases are mild, up to 710,000 people become seriously ill.
Flu symptoms come on very suddenly. Symptoms may include:
Anyone with the flu can have diarrhea, but it’s a more common symptom in children than adults.
Although fever is common, not everyone with the flu will get it. Fever is high, especially in children. The aches and pains and fatigue can be especially severe.
Shortness of breath, severe muscle or chest pain, and a fever or cough that worsens are some of the conceivable symptoms of a severe flu infection that may require emergency medical attention.
People with COVID-19 can have a wide variety of symptoms. They start more slowly and gradually expand over time.
The symptoms of COVID-19 resemble those of the flu. Loss of taste or smell is not unusual with COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:
As new variants of the coronavirus emerge, the symptoms of COVID-19 would likely change.
Symptoms of severe COVID-19 headaches may include:
Infants and children of all ages may require emergency care if:
The symptoms of RSV are mild, but they can worsen over time in vulnerable people, such as young children or the elderly. Symptoms appear in stages and gradually expand over a period of four or five days.
Symptoms of RSV are similar to those of the not unusual without blood and include:
In very young babies, the only symptoms are likely to be:
In more severe cases, RSV infections can lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
In some cases, a fitness professional may not perform tests to diagnose a user with the flu, especially if there is a peak of flu-like activity in the area.
If tests are needed, for example for treatment or public health monitoring, a doctor may use other tests. The most commonly used tests in clinical settings are molecular and antigen tests:
If antiviral treatment for influenza is required, treatment should begin within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Molecular and antigen tests for COVID-19 are also available. They run into proteins and genetic curtains of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Most at-home tests for COVID-19 are antigen tests.
People with symptoms of COVID-19 get tested right away, either at home or at a nearby clinic. After you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should wait five days to get tested, as early testing likely won’t provide accurate results.
As with the flu, antiviral treatments for COVID-19 are most productive when started early, so testing should be done as soon as possible.
RSV infections are so common, especially in children, that many other people don’t get tested for the virus unless they’re at risk for more severe illness.
If testing is required, molecular and antigen tests are used at most.
Antiviral medications are not prescribed for RSV.
Health professionals may recommend antiviral treatments for some people who get the flu and are more likely to develop severe illness. This includes:
Antiviral remedies are most productive within 1 to 2 days of symptom onset. They can help relieve symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness for 1 to 2 days.
There are four antivirals used to treat influenza in the United States:
Antibiotics are useful for treating the flu because it is caused by a virus or bacteria.
Flu shots can prevent you from getting sick from the flu infection or decrease your symptoms if you do get sick. Talk to your doctor or health care professional about getting a flu shot for you or your child.
People who are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 may be prescribed antivirals such as:
The selection of the remedy will depend on your age, the date of onset of your symptoms, and the other types of medications you are taking.
COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent illness or decrease symptoms if you do get sick. The CDC recommends the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines — Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax — to protect against severe illness caused by COVID-19. Specific recommendations are based on your age, time since your last dose, first vaccine received, and immunocompromised status. Talk to your doctor or fitness professional about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Most RSV infections go away on their own within a week. You can manage symptoms at home with pain relievers, fever, fluids, and rest.
There is no specific treatment for RSV. People who develop severe headaches due to an infection may need to be hospitalized for oxygen and intravenous (IV) fluids. In rare cases, intubation may be needed to help breathe.
CDC recommends the following to prevent RSV disease in high-risk groups:
Because the symptoms can be very similar, a lab test may be the only way to know precisely which virus you have.
For most people, the flu can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks, COVID-19 can last anywhere from 1 to 14 days, and RSV symptoms can last anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks. Some other people are at higher risk of contracting these viruses and could possibly aggravate serious complications, require hospitalization, or suffer life-threatening illnesses.
Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV are common respiratory illnesses caused by other viruses. The symptoms may be similar, but there are differences that will help you and your medical professionals determine which one you have.
Many other people recover from these viruses without medical treatment, but if necessary, lab tests can identify the exact virus you have and can help plan treatment and prevent serious complications.
Last exam on May 23, 2024
Our experts frequently monitor the fitness and wellness space, and we update our articles when new data becomes available.
Current Version
May 23, 2024
Written by
Morgan Meissner, Ph. D.
Published by
Debbie Nurmi
Medically Tested By
Mia Armstrong, MD
Copy edited by
Copy Editors
April 6, 2023
Written by
Morgan Meissner, Ph. D.
Published by
Rachael Beairsto
Medically Tested By
Megan Soliman, MD
Copy edited by
Sara Giusti
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