Is it Covid, RSV or the Flu?

January 28, 2025

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Yearly, respiratory viruses like flu, Covid and RSV trigger tens of millions of individuals to get sick and hundreds of individuals to die.

You possibly can decrease your threat by getting vaccinated.

Do you know?

Individuals over 65 and those that are immunocompromised ought to get a 2nd Covid vaccine 6 months after their first dose.

Who’s in danger for respiratory infections?

Everyone seems to be in danger for respiratory infections, however some individuals are at larger threat for extreme illness or hospitalization.

You might be thought-about excessive threat for a extreme case of flu or Covid in case you:

You might be thought-about excessive threat for a extreme case of RSV in case you:

How will you inform the distinction between these infections?

The flu, Covid and RSV all trigger comparable signs that may vary from gentle to lethal.

The widespread signs of those 3 viruses embody:

Different signs are extra widespread in sure viruses than others.

	Flu	Covid	RSV
Muscle ache/physique aches	Typically	Typically	Hardly ever
Issue respiratory	Hardly ever	Typically	Typically
Fatigue or weak point	Typically	Typically	Hardly ever
Fever	Typically (could be h igh, as much as 103 or 104)	Typically (gentle fever of 99 or 100)	Typically (gentle fever of 99 or 100)
Lack of style or scent	Hardly ever	Typically	Hardly ever
Sore throat	Typically	Typically	Hardly ever
Wheezing	Hardly ever	Hardly ever	Typically
Chills	Typically	Typically	Hardly ever
Sneezing	Typically	Typically	Typically
Diarrhea/vomiting	Typically	Typically	Hardly ever

A technique that will help you work out which virus you’ve is how shortly signs come on.

Flu comes on shortly and is felt everywhere in the physique
Covid and RSV usually begin slowly with sniffles, adopted within the subsequent day or two by cough and headac he

The one solution to know for positive is to get examined.

Vaccines to guard you from flu, Covid and RSV

Vaccines will help hold signs gentle and assist forestall extreme illness and hospitalization.

Flu and Covid vaccines are really helpful for:

It’s particularly vital to get vaccinated if you’re 65 and older or are at excessive threat for extreme illness.

The RSV vaccine is really helpful for adults:

This academic useful resource was created with help from Novavax, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.