How to fight common wintertime respiratory viruses

In the throes of winter’s yearly round of respiratory virus outbreaks, it pays to remember what Grandma told you.

Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and stay away from folks who may be infected. And, of course, wearing a mask won’t hurt.

Respiratory viruses that cause the common cold, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 and flu peak at this time of year. Vaccines can help head off RSV, COVID and flu, but there’s no vaccine to protect against the common cold.

While Grandma’s advice on prevention is still sound, experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine dismiss some old-school misconceptions about these diseases.

For example, colds are not caused by exposure to cold weather or getting wet in winter. Having COVID once does not provide lifetime immunity. The flu vaccine won’t give you flu. And the RSV virus only affects young kids.

Most important, Johns Hopkins doctors advise, if you do get sick, see your doctor for a diagnosis and, if appropriate, treatment for your particular illness. Getting plenty of rest, keeping warm, increasing fluid intake and using over-the-counter medications for congestion, sinus woes and aches and pains can help.

Here’s what else Johns Hopkins doctors want you to know:

Common cold: It’s caused by one of more than 200 viruses and spread through coughing, sneezing or surfaces touched by a sick person. Symptoms include sore throat, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, hacking coughs, mild fatigue and aches. For a sore throat, try gargling warm salt water. Using warm steam can ease congestion and petroleum jelly can be used to treat chapping around the nose and lips.

COVID-19: Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it’s spread by airborne particles. Symptoms usually appear within a week after exposure, and an infected person without symptoms may still spread the virus. Symptoms range from fever or chills to congestion, runny nose, breathing problems, new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, aches, and nausea or vomiting.

It is diagnosed through an at-home or provider-administered test. For mild cases, rest and over-the-counter fever-reducing meds may be sufficient. Severe cases may require hospitalization.

Influenza: The flu virus changes genetically from year to year, presenting as a new strain. Symptoms usually appear within four days after exposure to an infected person. Symptoms include coughing, extreme fatigue, headache, high fever, stuffy or runny nose, severe aches and pains, sneezing, sore throat and vomiting and diarrhea.

It is diagnosed through an at-home or provider-administered test. Treatments depend on how severe a patient’s symptoms are, as well as their overall health and age.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): One of the world’s most common childhood respiratory diseases, RSV also affects adults, and seniors are at particular risk. Symptoms usually appear within four to six days after exposure. It is spread when an infected individual releases virus-laden particles into the air.

Symptoms may include runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, loss of appetite and fever. Infants may have severe respiratory symptoms, as well. Severe symptoms may require a hospital stay. Lab tests may be used to identify the virus. Over-the-counter meds may ease symptoms, but children and teens should not be given aspirin.

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