Is it COVID-19, a chilly or the flu? Your information to seasonal sicknesses and their signs.

Again-to-school season additionally means a return to all these seasonal sicknesses we all know and don’t love. So how unhealthy will respiratory viruses get this fall? Right here’s your information on what to anticipate with regards to flu, the frequent chilly, COVID-19 and extra, together with signs and therapy choices.

Click on on the hyperlinks under to leap forward to a sure fall ailment:

Flu

Signs

Sore throat, runny or stuffy nostril and cough are all signs that the flu (aka influenza) shares with different respiratory viruses. However you’ll know that it’s flu if the sickness hits you all at once (as an alternative of signs approaching steadily, the way in which they do with a chilly.) You’re additionally extra prone to expertise fever, excessive tiredness and muscle aches with the flu, which isn’t as frequent with a chilly.

What the autumn forecast appears like

The most recent surveillance data from the Facilities of Illness Management and Prevention reveals little or no influenza exercise to date this season. At a press convention held by Johns Hopkins on Oct. 2, Andrew Pekosz, a professor on the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being, stated we should always count on to begin seeing circumstances of flu round November.

And through an annual convention hosted by the CDC and the Nationwide Basis for Infectious Ailments on Sept. 25, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen stated she’s anticipating this to be a “typical” flu season — which means much like final yr’s. Nonetheless, even a typical season may end up in quite a lot of hospitalizations and deaths.

“Influenza can kill upward of 25,000, to typically 50,000 people within the U.S. yearly,” Pekosz stated. “We frequently give attention to these over the age of 65 as being notably susceptible to extreme influenza, however kids are additionally susceptible to extreme demise, as final yr’s numbers have proven.”

Through the 2023-2024 season, there have been 200 pediatric deaths related to flu — breaking the earlier file excessive of 199 deaths through the 2019-2020 season.

What you are able to do about it

Everybody ages 6 months outdated and up is eligible for the influenza vaccine, which is reformulated annually to raised fight the pressure of flu that’s circulating that season.

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the Nationwide Heart for Immunization and Respiratory Ailments, stated on the Sept. 25 convention that based mostly on flu exercise within the Southern Hemisphere (which skilled its flu season throughout our spring and summer time months), this yr’s flu vaccine needs to be a great match for the strains of flu almost certainly to strike.

The flu shot could cut back your probabilities of contracting the virus, however extra importantly, it reduces the danger of significant problems in case you do get sick. About 80% of kids who died of the flu final yr had not been totally vaccinated in opposition to influenza.

It’s protected to get your flu shot and COVID shot on the identical time, in case you select, and in the identical arm or totally different arms. In September, the Meals and Drug Administration additionally authorized an influenza nasal spray vaccine that may be self-administered at residence, although the producer says it received’t be accessible till subsequent flu season.

In the event you do get sick, an at-home speedy check or a check out of your physician can affirm whether or not you will have influenza or one thing else. On Oct. 7, the FDA authorized the primary over-the-counter residence flu and COVID-19 mixture check outdoors of emergency use authorization, which might detect SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and influenza A and B (the viruses that trigger flu).

Antiviral drugs, which might reduce the severity and size of sickness, are also available for many who are very sick or at the next threat of problems from the flu.

COVID-19

Signs

COVID-19 usually shares a lot of the same symptoms as influenza, together with stuffy or runny nostril, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, fatigue and fever or chills. However in contrast to the flu, COVID signs can start steadily and get progressively worse; and you might expertise new lack of style or scent, which isn’t frequent with influenza.

What the autumn forecast appears like

This needs to be a “typical” fall for COVID-19, which means much like final yr. However in contrast to different respiratory viruses, what units COVID aside is its tendency to defy seasonal conduct patterns; whereas influenza and colds were, for the most part, lying low through the hotter months, there was a summertime surge in COVID cases.

Pekosz stated the big variety of summertime COVID circumstances could imply a barely smaller surge within the early fall and winter as a result of people contaminated in the summertime could have immunity that lasts up to a couple months.

To this point, CDC surveillance isn’t exhibiting a lot COVID exercise, although it’s anticipated to choose up this fall and winter. Cohen stated that total, we’re seeing fewer hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19, probably due to vaccines and former infections boosting our immunity to the virus.

“However in case you ask me to rank COVID subsequent to flu, COVID remains to be inflicting extra hospitalizations and deaths than flu,” Cohen stated.

What you are able to do about it

Everybody ages 6 months outdated and up is eligible for an updated COVID-19 vaccine — which, just like the flu shot, is reformulated each fall. Pekosz stated this season’s COVID vaccines needs to be a “pretty good match.”

“They’re by no means an ideal match as a result of the vaccine pressure selection is made again in June, and whereas the vaccine doesn’t change, the virus retains replicating and mutating and altering,” Pekosz stated. “However for probably the most half, the circulating variants proper now are a great match for the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The aged, pregnant girls, individuals with preexisting circumstances and the immunocompromised are notably inspired to get vaccinated. Ladies who get vaccinated whereas they’re pregnant additionally go that immunity on to their infants for the primary few months of life. Daskalakis stated over 95% of adults who had been hospitalized final yr with COVID-19 didn’t have an up to date COVID vaccine. So whereas you should still get COVID, the vaccine might help you keep away from extra critical outcomes from the virus.

In the event you do get sick, there are antivirals accessible that may deal with gentle to average COVID in individuals who may in any other case change into very in poor health. There are additionally free assessments (available to order online here) that may enable you to decide when you have COVID or one thing else.

Colds

Signs

The frequent chilly usually shares most of the signs related to COVID-19 or the flu however tends to be a lot milder. You could have a runny nostril or congestion, sneezing, sore throat, cough, slight physique aches and probably a low-grade fever.

In contrast to the flu, chilly signs have a tendency to come back on steadily, peaking round two to 3 days after an infection.

What the autumn forecast appears like

You may get a chilly at any time of yr, however they’re particularly frequent through the fall and winter as a result of persons are extra prone to collect shut collectively indoors — making it simpler for colds to unfold — and since the decrease humidity dries out nasal passages, making us extra inclined.

There are greater than 200 respiratory viruses that may trigger colds, with rhinoviruses being the commonest within the U.S. According to the CDC, adults have a median of two to 3 colds yearly — and youngsters have much more.

What you are able to do about it

There aren’t at the moment any vaccines, antivirals or particular therapies accessible for the frequent chilly, so your finest guess is to deal with your self and your signs till the chilly passes. Drink a lot of fluids like water, juice and soup or broth, and get loads of relaxation. Over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamines might help with nasal signs, and ache relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) might help with muscle aches.

RSV

Signs

Preliminary signs of the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, can seem much like a standard chilly — together with sneezing, runny nostril, a fever and cough. However a “barking or wheezing cough” could be one of many first indicators of a extra critical an infection, and in younger infants, the only signs is likely to be irritability, decreased exercise or respiration difficulties.

What the autumn forecast appears like

Consultants anticipate a “typical” RSV season. Dr. Flor Muñoz, an affiliate professor of pediatrics and infectious illnesses at Baylor Faculty of Drugs, stated through the CDC’s Sept. 25 convention that we should always count on extra RSV circumstances to start someday in October, with circumstances usually peaking in December and January.

Whereas most circumstances of RSV go away on their very own, the virus could be harmful for older adults and really younger kids and is the main reason behind hospitalizations in infants, according to the American Lung Association.

Daskalakis stated as much as 160,000 older adults get hospitalized for RSV yearly, which interprets to 6,000 to 10,000 RSV-related deaths per year among people over age 65.

What you are able to do about it

For pregnant girls, an RSV vaccine given between weeks 32 and 36 of being pregnant can shield the newborn for the primary six months of life (when the newborn is on the highest threat of extreme RSV). For infants whose moms didn’t obtain an RSV vaccine, RSV antibodies given earlier than 8 months of age can provide safety from extra extreme RSV sickness.

The CDC also recommends the RSV vaccine for all adults ages 75 and older, and for adults ages 60 to 74 who’re at larger threat of extreme RSV — together with these with preexisting circumstances like diabetes or weight problems, coronary heart or lung illness, a weakened immune system or sufferers dwelling in nursing properties.

There aren’t any antivirals routinely really helpful for RSV, however the CDC says it’s best to call your doctor in case you’re “having issue respiration, not ingesting sufficient fluids or experiencing worsening signs.” In any other case, you may relieve signs at residence with over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever or achiness. RSV ought to resolve by itself by getting loads of relaxation and ingesting a lot of fluids.

Fall allergic reactions

Signs

OK, so seasonal allergies aren’t a virus, however they’re price noting as a result of they do wreak havoc on our respiratory system — and on the floor, have so much in frequent with different fall illnesses.

And no, seasonal allergic reactions don’t simply occur within the spring. Fall allergies are a standard downside, and telltale indicators embody itchy, watery eyes, a runny nostril and sneezing. In contrast to with respiratory viruses, you received’t expertise a fever with allergic reactions, and signs are likely to linger for weeks or months.

What the autumn forecast appears like

Ragweed pollen is the commonest fall allergy wrongdoer. Ragweed, a wild plant, blooms and releases pollen which hangs round from late summer time till early winter, or the “first exhausting frost of the yr,” one skilled told Today.

Different crops, together with burning bush, cocklebur, lamb’s quarters, pigweed, sagebrush, mugwort, tumbleweed and Russian thistle, also can set off allergic reactions within the fall.

And if it looks like your allergic reactions are lingering greater than standard, that’s as a result of allergy season is, the truth is, getting longer. Local weather change means extra heat days — which ends up in an earlier and extra extreme allergy season.

What you are able to do about it

There are many over-the-counter options accessible for seasonal allergic reactions, together with nasal antihistamine sprays, saline sprays and steroid sprays, or oral antihistamines like fexofenadine and cetirizine (which received’t make you drowsy like so-called first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine).

Consultants additionally recommend avoiding certain home allergy remedies, akin to humidifiers, dietary supplements and important oils. Relying on what you’re allergic to, a few of these would-be options may very well irritate your allergy signs.