Do you have a cold, the flu, or allergies? Check your symptoms "By and large, it is much more like the common cold than influenza or RSV," noted Conway. Young children and people over age 65 or who are immunocompromised are more susceptible to developing complications from an infection, such as pneumonia. Metapneumovirus (HMPV), which was first identified in 2001, is similar to RSV but the symptoms are milder and closer to a common cold, including a cough, a bit of a fever, and a runny nose. is making progress on a vaccine Canada does not currently have an RSV vaccine. Instead, people typically develop a type of immunity to the virus that wanes over time. It can then lead to "very serious pneumonia and even death," he said. Unlike other respiratory viruses, it typically doesn't affect teenagers and adults under 65. RSV may also cause severe disease in men and women over age 65. The virus can block their much smaller airways and have a significant effect on them. Last fall saw a surge in RSV cases in children in B.C., according to Conway. While RSV typically goes away with home treatment, babies younger than six months, especially those born prematurely, may require hospital treatment. RSV is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild symptoms, including a "simple cold, or bronchiolitis in young infants," according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). While all of the above symptoms may range in severity, seek medical attention if you: The BCCDC says symptoms of COVID-19 may include new or worsening: While many symptoms of respiratory diseases overlap, there are some notable differences between them. What is the difference between COVID symptoms and other respiratory diseases? People who are diagnosed with COVID-19 within the first few days of showing symptoms should also take Paxlovid, which can reduce the length and severity of infection, advises Conway, who adds that he offers the drug to patients who get a positive result early. "Once you have one, you're more susceptible to getting other things." "We are getting a bit tired and complacent," he told V.I.A., adding that people who venture out while ill can also pick up secondary diseases more easily. People who feel ill should continue to follow best practices, including staying home when they have symptoms and wearing masks when it is appropriate. The respiratory season typically stays fairly consistent but pandemic restrictions prevented people from being exposed to viruses for at least two years.Ĭonway notes that the population's immunity may have waned, making people "more susceptible" to respiratory diseases. Viruses transmit from person to person and have more opportunities to spread during colder months when they spend time close together indoors. While cases of COVID-19 have waned, Canada continues to report over 1,000 cases of the coronavirus weekly - and those only include people who get tested by a healthcare professional.Ĭonway attributes a rise in other respiratory illnesses to a loosening of pandemic-related restrictions, noting that this is the first year Canadians didn't have to follow any guidance from their local health authorities. The Public Health Agency of Canada warned that the country faced a "triple threat" of respiratory diseases, which included the flu, COVID-19, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre (VIDC), says that the "pandemic seemed to have confused viruses," resulting in an early start to the respiratory season as well as cases continuing into the summer months.Ĭanada declared an influenza epidemic in November 2022 following a surge in cases and an early start to the flu season. COVID-19 is no longer considered a global emergency but it has changed the way other viruses behave - at least for now.ĭr.
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