Three respiratory illnesses are affecting Delawareans right now − COVID-19, flu, and the respiratory syncytial virus or RSV − and state officials are concerned the combination could impact an “already strained hospital system” in the state.
For the week of Oct. 16 through Oct. 22, the state Division of Public Health reported 44 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu, compared to 19 cases the week before. Since the season started on Oct. 2, the state has seen a total of 69 flu cases.
For the same week, there were 98 cases of RSV, for a season total of 250, according to DPH.
While public health officials and hospitals like Nemours Children’s Health said that RSV is a well-known virus among children under the age of two, it has arrived earlier this year, and more children who have not been infected in the past couple years − due to pandemic restrictions and mask mandates − may be at risk.
Since these illnesses can all affect the respiratory system, the state’s Division of Public Health provided information on how to distinguish between the three, and how to know when to visit the emergency department − advice that is especially key as emergency departments experience long wait times.
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Is it the flu or COVID-19?
The flu and COVID-19 have many similar symptoms, according to DPH, including:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headaches
Because these symptoms can overlap, public health officials said the best thing people can do is call their health care provider to see if they should get tested for COVID-19 or come in for a visit.
Even if someone takes a home COVID-19 test and it’s negative, DPH asks people to consider re-testing in two days or consult their provider to see if they need a flu test.
It is also wise to stick to the recommendations that persisted throughout the pandemic: If you feel sick, try to stay home and mask up if you need to be around other people. While there is no vaccine for RSV, the state agency also recommends people stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and flu shots.
What are the symptoms of RSV?
People usually show symptoms for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, within four to six days of being infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those first symptoms usually look like mild, cold-like symptoms, and many people will only experience these less severe symptoms, according to public health officials. Here are a list of symptoms from Nemours Children’s Health:
- runny nose and sneezing
- cough
- fever
- wheezing and trouble breathing
- decrease in appetite
For infants, these symptoms can include fussiness and poor feeding.
After these initial symptoms, the illness can progress to more severe symptoms like fast or short breathing or wheezing, according to DPH. In infants and young children, RSV may lead to grunting noises when breathing, chest caving in during breathing and skin turning purple or blue due to lack of oxygen.
While people of any age can develop RSV, it is most common in children under two years old and can be severe, especially for infants and older adults. Nemours points out that RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among children less than a year old.
Most people will recover in one to two weeks, according to state public health officials.
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When to visit the emergency department
People throughout the health care industry often emphasize the importance of not burdening already strained emergency departments with symptoms or concerns that can be treated elsewhere.
This is especially true amid the continued spread of COVID-19 and seasonal viruses like influenza and RSV.
Here are some symptoms that the state public health officials said may warrant a visit to the emergency department:
- Trouble breathing or wheezing that is not well-controlled by asthma medications
- Unusual sleepiness or confusion
- A stiff neck and a fever
- A cut that won’t stop bleeding
- A broken bone
- Tightness in the chest or pain
- Elevated blood pressure with other symptoms, such as chest pain or severe headache
- Drug overdose
- A head injury with vomiting, sleepiness, fainting or seizure
- An eye injury
- A serious burn
- At risk of harming themselves or others
When NOT to visit the emergency department
Here is a list of health concerns that would not require a visit to the emergency department, according to DPH:
- Need a COVID-19 test
- Don’t feel well but can manage symptoms with over-the-counter medications
- Elevated blood pressure without other symptoms
- Runny nose/cough without trouble breathing
- Fever with mild symptoms
- Muscle soreness or backaches
- Minor cuts or scrapes
- Nausea or diarrhea without abdominal pain
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches, with a focus on health-related issues. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle.
