Dr. Michael Chang, an infectious disease specialist in Houston, Texas, tells the New York Times that a viral infection can be differentiated by observing how quickly symptoms worsen.
Flu symptoms come on quickly, often occurring just a day after a sick person has been infected, and can be felt throughout the body.
As for the common cold, symptoms can appear after two or three days and are milder.
And for Covid the symptoms appear on average after five days in general, and with the appearance of new mutants they can appear after only three days.
In case of RSV infection, symptoms appear after 4-6 days
Symptoms of “Covid” and “RSV” slowly worsen and may start with a stuffy nose, then a cough or headache the next day, and fever on the third day.
In the case of the flu, adults may have a fever of 39 to 40 degrees, but fever rarely affects patients with a cold.
In the case of “Covid” and “RSV” a slight fever may occur, perhaps below 38 degrees, or it may not occur at all. Chang explains that it has become common for mild symptoms and low fever due to new variants, vaccinations or previous infections.
There are other less common symptoms that can help identify the condition, which are diarrhea and vomiting, which occur due to the flu or Covid, and these appear more often in children.
Covid can lead to a sudden and severe loss of taste or smell.
RSV is often accompanied by a very wet and loud cough.
People with RSV often do not experience the full body fatigue and muscle pain that happens to patients with flu and the Covid virus. This virus can also be distinguished, especially in young children, by hearing a whistling or crackling noise when exhaling and may be accompanied by rapid or difficult breathing.
In general, people over the age of 65 are the most susceptible to infection with all viruses, due to immunodeficiency as they age, while children are susceptible to severe flu and “RSV” symptoms.
Dr Zhang said children are more likely to have a mild COVID-19 infection or may not develop any symptoms than adults.
The only way to diagnose an infection is with an exam.
