Covid Plus

Is it COVID-19? Is it just a cold? The flu? RSV? Amid this fall and winter season, distinguishing one respiratory illness from another has never been so important. Influenza and COVID-19, along with the colder months pointing to increases in respiratory illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), make having answers regarding your health especially crucial. 

Our COVID Plus panel identifies some of the most contagious viral pathogens including COVID-19, Influenza A&B, RSV, Pneumonia, Strep and MRSA.

Anyone can test positive for COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Both are viral diseases that affect the respiratory system.  COVID-19 and flu have similar symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, the symptoms for both conditions can range from asymptomatic to severe. For this reason, it is hard to know the underlying cause based on the symptoms alone.

In the case of either illness, at least 1 day may pass between the time a person contracts the virus and the start of symptoms. A person can also spread either virus before becoming symptomatic.

The symptoms of both flu and COVID-19 include:

• cough
• fever or chills
• fatigue
• shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• muscle pain or aches
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• vomiting
• headache
• diarrhea
• changes in or loss of taste or smell — more common in COVID-19

Anyone can get sick with flu, even healthy people, and serious problems related to flu can happen to anyone at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by symptoms alone because some of the symptoms are the same. PCR tests can differentiate between flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
 

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States. 

CDC surveillance has shown an increase in RSV detections and RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in multiple U.S. regions, with some regions nearing seasonal peak levels. Clinicians and public health professionals should be aware of increases in respiratory viruses, including RSV.  

Respiratory syncytial virus outbreak in a long-term care facility detected using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction: an argument for real-time detection methods - PubMed (nih.gov)