Published on Nov 27, 2023 | 1:23 PM
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When it comes to respiratory illnesses like the common cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV, it’s easy to confuse their symptoms since they often overlap. Each illness shares similar signs, such as a runny nose, cough, and fatigue, making it challenging to distinguish between them without testing.
However, these illnesses are caused by different viruses and vary in severity, with certain symptoms being more prevalent in one illness over another. Understanding the differences in symptoms, causes, and peak seasons for each can help you manage these infections more effectively.
When looking at the symptoms alone, it's not surprising why people get Covid-19, the common cold, RSV, and the flu confused. Each shares similar symptoms, with some cases mirroring each other.
While a doctor’s medical guidance is always best, this RSV vs covid vs flu vs cold chart is designed to help you better understand their symptomatic similarities and differences:
The common cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV are all respiratory illnesses but differ in severity, symptoms, and the populations they affect most.
Common cold’s symptoms are usually mild, characterized by a runny nose, sneezing, and a mild cough, and rarely leads to serious complications.1
Flu symptoms tend to be more severe, with sudden high fever, body aches, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms that can result in complications like pneumonia, especially in vulnerable groups.2
COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to severe, with hallmark signs like loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, and prolonged fatigue, and it can lead to serious complications, including respiratory failure.3
RSV symptoms are more common in infants and older adults and can cause wheezing and breathing difficulties, with the potential to develop into serious respiratory issues such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.4
Understanding the causes and peak seasons for the common cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV can help you better manage and prevent these common respiratory illnesses.
Each illness is caused by a different virus but spreads in similar ways—primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces.
Although these illnesses can occur year-round, they tend to peak during colder months, with slight variations in timing.
Here are some tips to help prevent the common cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV, especially during peak season. Following these practices can reduce the risk of spreading or catching these illnesses.
Cold and flu medicine can help alleviate some symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, and congestion. However, these medications do not treat the virus itself. For COVID-19, it's important to follow the advice of a healthcare provider and consider antiviral treatments if prescribed, especially for more severe cases.
No, a cold or flu cannot "turn into" COVID-19 because they are caused by different viruses. However, it is possible to contract COVID-19 while recovering from a cold or flu if exposed to the virus. This is why it’s important to take preventative measures, such as vaccination and good hygiene, to reduce the risk of contracting any of these illnesses.
Yes, adults can get RSV, though it is most common in young children and older adults. RSV in adults typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, but it can be more severe in those with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions, sometimes leading to complications like pneumonia or bronchitis.
For mild symptoms of the common cold, flu, COVID-19, or RSV, rest and home care are usually sufficient. However, you should seek medical attention if you experience difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, chest pain, confusion, or worsening symptoms. Infants, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions should seek care promptly if they suspect they have RSV, the flu, or COVID-19.
Yes, it is possible to be infected with more than one virus at the same time, such as having both the flu and COVID-19 or RSV and a cold. Co-infections can complicate symptoms and may require more comprehensive medical care. If you suspect you have multiple infections, it's important to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
At Call-On-Doc, we offer online urgent care services for COVID-19, upper respiratory infections, the common cold, and flu. We can provide relief for symptoms like nasal congestion, pain, sore throat, and coughing. Our telemedicine services are designed to provide fast, reliable care from the comfort of your home. We offer personalized treatment plans and medications to help you recover quickly.
Whether you're dealing with mild symptoms or seeking early intervention, our experienced medical providers are here to support your health. Get the care you need without the wait—get treatment today!
Sources:
English graduate and Call-On-Doc’s medical resource guide, Wayne C. Hahne is an experienced and passionate medical education content expert. Through diligent research, provider interviews and utilizing the industry's leading resources for wellness information, it is Mr. Hahne’s personal mission to educate the general public on medical conditions with in-depth and easy-to-understand written guides.
The Call-On-Doc Guide to the Flu
Every year, millions of Americans get sick, go to the doctor, and suffer hospitalizations all because of influenza. The virus, most commonly referred to as the flu, comes in multiple variations and has been the source of many global epidemics. One exceedingly deadly pandemic caused by influenza came in the form of the Spanish flu. Ravaging the public in 1918 and 1919, the virus would go on to take the lives of 21 million Americans. Put into perspective, that’s more than WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. (1) Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, flu CDC statistics show significantly reduced deaths in spite of how influenza spreads.
In recent years of high influenza spread, the flu CDC statistics for flu deaths by year resulted in:
|
Year |
2016-2017 |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cases |
29 million |
41 million |
29 million |
36 million |
|
Deaths |
38,000 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
25,000 |
In the case of 2020 to 2021, the CDC admits that flu cases were so low that they would not be recorded. (2) While the numbers vary wildly year by year, the evidence shows that influenza mortality rates have improved in the United States despite how aggressively the flu spreads. Initiatives that may have helped reduce the rates include educating people about the flu virus, best practices, and prevention methods.
Sep 26, 2023 | 4:05 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as SARS-Cov-2 or simply Covid-19, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that caused an international pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Having pushed the United States government to assist in the development of vaccines and treatment in the first year of the pandemic, the virus has the capacity to be severe in at-risk individuals but tends to cause only mild symptoms in healthy adults and few to none in children. Like other viruses affecting the respiratory system, Covid-19 spreads through droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze.
Oct 24, 2023 | 5:21 PM
How to Stay Healthy When Your Kids Get Sick
Now that we're in the depths of cold and flu season it's important to remind your little ones to cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze as well as frequently wash their hands as kids get sick more often than adults with children ages 1 to 3 getting sick six to nine times per year and kids ages 4 to 10 getting sick four to six times per year. (1) Adults understand the basic ways to prevent getting sick, even when exposed to others during covid, flu, and other illness peaks, but children need to be frequently told not to touch their face and put their fingers in their mouths and noses. While preventative measures are important your little one most likely will still get sick a few times each cold and flu season which in turn exposes you and your family directly. Being able to get pediatric care quickly can help stop sickness and start recovery even sooner. Here are a few things to note that can help you throughout the year when it comes to taking care of your family
Oct 31, 2023 | 2:13 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to the Flu
Every year, millions of Americans get sick, go to the doctor, and suffer hospitalizations all because of influenza. The virus, most commonly referred to as the flu, comes in multiple variations and has been the source of many global epidemics. One exceedingly deadly pandemic caused by influenza came in the form of the Spanish flu. Ravaging the public in 1918 and 1919, the virus would go on to take the lives of 21 million Americans. Put into perspective, that’s more than WW1, WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined. (1) Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, flu CDC statistics show significantly reduced deaths in spite of how influenza spreads.
In recent years of high influenza spread, the flu CDC statistics for flu deaths by year resulted in:
|
Year |
2016-2017 |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cases |
29 million |
41 million |
29 million |
36 million |
|
Deaths |
38,000 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
25,000 |
In the case of 2020 to 2021, the CDC admits that flu cases were so low that they would not be recorded. (2) While the numbers vary wildly year by year, the evidence shows that influenza mortality rates have improved in the United States despite how aggressively the flu spreads. Initiatives that may have helped reduce the rates include educating people about the flu virus, best practices, and prevention methods.
Sep 26, 2023 | 4:05 PM
The Call-On-Doc Guide to Covid-19
Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as SARS-Cov-2 or simply Covid-19, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that caused an international pandemic from 2020 to 2023. Having pushed the United States government to assist in the development of vaccines and treatment in the first year of the pandemic, the virus has the capacity to be severe in at-risk individuals but tends to cause only mild symptoms in healthy adults and few to none in children. Like other viruses affecting the respiratory system, Covid-19 spreads through droplets people produce when they breathe, speak, cough, and sneeze.
Oct 24, 2023 | 5:21 PM
How to Stay Healthy When Your Kids Get Sick
Now that we're in the depths of cold and flu season it's important to remind your little ones to cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze as well as frequently wash their hands as kids get sick more often than adults with children ages 1 to 3 getting sick six to nine times per year and kids ages 4 to 10 getting sick four to six times per year. (1) Adults understand the basic ways to prevent getting sick, even when exposed to others during covid, flu, and other illness peaks, but children need to be frequently told not to touch their face and put their fingers in their mouths and noses. While preventative measures are important your little one most likely will still get sick a few times each cold and flu season which in turn exposes you and your family directly. Being able to get pediatric care quickly can help stop sickness and start recovery even sooner. Here are a few things to note that can help you throughout the year when it comes to taking care of your family
Oct 31, 2023 | 2:13 PM
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