[custom_adv] Cold Sick african american girl working from home office. Ill young black woman with cold, sitting at desk with laptop computer and sneezing for allergy. [custom_adv] RSV Respiratory syncytial virus—RSV—is an infection of the respiratory tract that may seem like a cold or the flu that’s easily spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include fever, nasal congestion, a barking cough, difficulty breathing, and lethargy. “The virus causes the most trouble for very young children in the first year of life,” warns Dr. Cloonan. Call a doctor immediately if children exhibit these symptoms. [custom_adv] It’s the sick season Flu season is here, triggering memories of the last year’s severe season. Especially for vulnerable people like children, the elderly, and those with lung ailments such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, classic flu symptoms including a sudden fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and a dry cough can be cause for worry. But not every flu-like symptom signals the flu. [custom_adv] Pneumonia “Influenza is dangerous, but the flu itself almost never kills anyone,” says Dr. Cloonan. What does is a secondary infection of bacterial pneumonia—it can accompany the flu. A common scenario: Someone who has the flu starts to feel better, but then a second wave hits. “That’s bacterial pneumonia,” says Dr. Cloonan. “If the fever goes away and comes back, you should be concerned that pneumonia happened after the flu has run its course.” [custom_adv] Mononucleosis “Mono can mimic the flu, although there’s no seasonality to it,” says Dr. Cloonan. Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, the illness usually brings on a fever, fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body; nearly nine out of 10 people will get sick with this virus at some point in their life. “The younger you are when you’re exposed to it, the less sick you tend to get,” he says. “You may not know a young child has it because kids are sick so often and the illness may not be severe.” [custom_adv] [custom_adv] Strep throat You’ll also get a fever and a general feeling of malaise with strep, says Dr. Cloonan. But the intense pain in your throat along with redness and, sometimes, white spots on your tonsils distinguish this infection from the flu. “Many viruses that cause the common cold can cause strep throat as well,” says Dr. Cloonan. If you think you may have strep throat, see your doctor for testing and, if it’s positive, a prescription for antibiotics. Check out these strep throat symptoms you should never ignore.
