In the second of typically three waves of the flu, Warren County Health Department Administrator Jenna Link says a high fever is a key symptom to really watch for, especially in small children, as it is an indication there is a serious infection your body is working hard to fight off. As for distinguishing between cold, flu, RSV, or COVID, Administrator Link breaks down the common symptoms:
“Symptoms for cold, flu, RSV, and COVID; cough, headaches, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, those are all pretty similar across the board for the four. Cold and COVID both, frequently we see a sore throat. The flu, we see more of the body aches, extreme fatigue, and elevated fever. You can kind of differentiate between some of those things and know. There is not an antibiotic that will necessarily help with those illnesses, but there are antivirals that can help minimize symptoms.”
Healthy habits to remember in protecting against illnesses: wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose, stay home when you are sick, stay hydrated, disinfect surfaces, make sure you are getting adequate sleep, and stay up on flu shots and vaccinations.
For the complete interview with Administrator Link, click here.
