NATIONWIDE — Seems like everyone’s walking around with the sniffles, the cough, the fatigue. What’s going on? 

Jodi Galaydick, M.D., an infectious disease, critical care and internal medicine physician at Garnet Health Doctors, explained. 

What’s making us ill?

“We’re seeing flu, COVID, RSV,” said Dr. Galaydick. “And the common cold, which we don’t test for.” 

Most are familiar with colds, flu and COVID, but RSV—respiratory syncytial virus—might be less well known. “RSV is often seen in young children,” Dr. Galaydick said. Severe illness is more likely to develop in “babies or kids who have chronic conditions, elders or people with chronic lung conditions.”

RSV usually means mild symptoms, like those of a cold, and most people recover in a week or two, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). But RSV can be life-threatening for those mentioned.

How do you tell them apart?

Colds: “Cough, headache, runny nose,” said Dr. Galaydick. Body aches, sneezing, maybe a sore throat. 

Flu: “Fever. You might have more body aches.” The best way to be sure it’s the flu and not COVID or a bad cold is to get tested, she said. “We’re required to test in New York State [if you have a doctor’s appointment]. They track it pretty closely.”

COVID: “Cough, fever, chills. It’s distinguished by loss of taste and smell,” Dr. Galaydick said, adding that most people don’t experience it. 

RSV: Symptoms include a cough, fever and chills. 

How to treat them

Cold: “It’s just symptomatic,” Dr. Galaydick said. “If there’s a fever, take Tylenol.”

Flu and COVID: Medications exist for the two viruses. “Tamiflu is prescribed by a doctor.” It’s an antiviral medication for people aged two weeks and up who have had flu symptoms for no more than two days, according to the Tamiflu website.

For COVID, you can take Paxlovid, Dr. Galaydick said. It too is prescribed by a doctor. “Make sure you do have a positive COVID test,” she added. 

RSV: There is no medication specifically to treat RSV as there is for flu or COVID. “It’s symptom control,” Dr. Galaydick said. Prevention is best—see below.

If you’re a caregiver

If you take care of someone who is at risk of severe illness, then you might have to take extra steps to keep yourself and your loved one well. 

“If you take care of or work with susceptible people, wear a mask in a crowd,” said Dr. Galaydick. “If you’re sick, avoid exposure” to your care recipients. 

“Keep your vaccinations up to date. And talk to a physician” if they become ill, she said. 

Prevention—for you and others

Common cold: The CDC weighed in. Try to stay away from people with upper respiratory infections; wash your hands, and don’t touch your face with unwashed hands to avoid spreading germs; stay home when you’re ill, and keep kids out of school or daycare if you’re ill. 

Flu: The flu shot is readily available, and is used in people aged six months and up, Dr. Galaydick said. 

COVID: “The COVID vaccine with booster” is available, said Dr. Galaydick. 

RSV also has a vaccine.

The point of vaccination, Dr. Galaydick said—more than once—is not just to keep yourself from getting sick. It’s about the people around you, some of whom might be at risk of severe illness or death. 

“We see a lot of respiratory viruses in the community,” Dr. Galaydick said. “Take precautions. It’s about protecting yourself and others.”