COVID-19 vs. Flu vs. RSV: How to tell the difference between respiratory infections

[@Midknight_Trucker]

I am slowly getting over RSV and I can tell you that I have never been so sick in my life. As someone who is immune compromised, this RSV has hurt me tremendously. Shortness of breath and wheezing have been a common element with RSV for me and the overall fatigue level is bad. I do not wish this on anyone

[@amandahayes803]

Does RSV cause chest pain? My son is having this really strange sounding cough. He only coughs two or three times, but it sounds like he has trouble breathing after the cough and said his chest hurts when he breathes in. It's terrifying me because he's only 7 and I've never heard of cheat pain in children. We've never had covid, to my knowledge, so I don't know what that is like, either. He had flu for the first time last December and THAT was the scariest thing I've experienced with any of my kids. I hate when he is sick and I can't do anything at all to help. He has been coughing a lot over the last year, in general, but we haven't been able to get into an asthma and allergist doctor, yet. They were backed all the way up from February to June. That's insane! I hope you are feeling better and appreciate any answers you can provide. I don't know if this is emergency room worthy or not. He is scared of the hospital because he's had to go with me before and seen me get poked and prodded with needles, then needing emergency surgery. I'm afraid to go because he could start crying and then really have issues breathing because of it. My car is broken down, so there's no way of getting around forcing him into an ambulance. It's the worst timing ever. I just don't know what the correct thing to do is. He doesn't have a fever but he does already have asthma, too.

[@EmmaDeFazio5938]

What is worse the chills you get when you are sick or dizziness ?

[@tasyamaksimenko2162]

how long have u been suffered? im over 50 n got rsv, i'm taking nurofen for 2 month n starting worried

[@ilovetotri23]

I'm certain I had RSV, low grade fever for a week. Tons and tons of mucus. Started doing a nasal rinse. About 2 weeks later I was doing better but not 100%. One night I came home and I felt really sick within an hour. I spiked a fever of 105.7. My primary care doctor ordered a RSV/COVID/FLU test. It came back positive for influenza A. I immediately started Tamiflu. I was back to work in 5 days. My physical health is 100% again. My insurance hit me with a bill for $1000 for the test. Mental health suffering...

[@shiba18inu]

$1000 for consultation, test and Tamiflu?? Yikes.....

[@dingaonhockey]

I have no insurance but I'm negative for COVID and have all the symptoms of rsv. Wet cough. Wheezing, crackling. Sounds like there's really nothing they can do for rsv so I'll hope my body fights this off soon and watch for pneumonia/bronchitis.

[@OverYou-tr5ok]

Well since it's coming on winter, common colds, head colds, sinus pressure and drainage, tickle cough, blowing noses, wet watery eyes, and all that other good stuff that comes with it, Doesn't mean you have covid, or you should be tested for covid. Everything is not covid

[@Viva12-v6y]

Me too

[@sixstringsdown1]

RSV is particularly dangerous to those over age 60, and any other comorbidities. Just from what I have read...

[@reneeleegreco1603]

I was born with respiratory issues & notice people have poor hygiene. People will go out shopping etc when they’re sick and /or drag their sick children out

[@crazy4doxies440]

I’m still dealing with RSV 7 days in. Misery. Fever, sore throat, chest pain and so much productive phlegm. The first 2 hours in the a.m. are a misery with coughing up gunk until I vomit. The coughing is miserable. Tested negative for influenza and covid.

[@lukesmith3283]

I literally just came down three days ago with a sore throat. The sore throat is now irritable, and symptoms have progressed to ears popping, sinus pressure on head, fatigue/tiredness, off and on fever and chills. Urgent care tested me for flu/covid/strep/mono all came back negative

[@LobsterLover530]

My over age 65 RSV started slowly with head drainage and then sore throat. Then a bronchial cough from the diaphragm, and loads of fluids. Like a full month of head drainage and wet chest cough; low-grade Fever, no appetite and exhaustion. Used about nine boxes of tissues. Did not lose taste or smell.

[@valnsky]

This is super super useful!!!!! Dr Mike you are the best

[@stokeswait1984]

I got rsv, dude let me tell you, i have never felt this sick before, i didn't get a fever, i had it about 2 weeks, finally over it, still have a slight dry cough but im good. I was so weak i couldn't do anything, light headed, i was coughing up clear mucas for like a week straight, it was absolutely the most annoying sickness I've ever had, I took Mucinex extra strength and it definitely helped! But it was torture, took lot of vitamins etc it seems like 2 weeks is when the rsv virus dissipates, about that time line

[@Carolmaizy]

I'm almost recovered from what the doctor said is a viral infection, that started on Nov. 16. I baby-sat my 3 year old great nephew (who started daycare in Sept) on a Monday. By Thursday I had a runny nose and eyes, sore throat and cough. On Friday I had vomiting and 102 fever, aches, chills, loss of appetite and fatigue. Head and chest congestion but mucus stayed clear throughout the entire three weeks , and no chest pain. At the doctor's on Monday I had no fever and tested negative for Covid, strep, and flu. Monday night my fever was 101.8 and I had laryngitis. I was in bed for 7 days and lost 12 lbs in two weeks. My recovery has been slow but I'm better, have gained back two pounds and can be more active now, although my energy is still low. I'm 66, and this is the worst cold virus I've ever had. I had a flu shot and two Shingles shots this year. I'm getting the shots for Covid, RSV and pneumonia as soon as I'm healthy again- hopefully before it's too late.

[@lukesmith3283]

I just got a sore throat three days ago now I have fever chills bodyaches sinus pressure on the head can’t sleep, fatigue, I also tested negative for strep/flu/Covid/mono. I’m guessing this is still going around?

[@Carolmaizy]

I heard of someone having it last month, in my community. Incidentally, as soon as I recovered from the infection I got Covid for the first time. In February my husband and I had the norm virus. Rough winter.

[@lukesmith3283]

@@Carolmaizy yeah you had a rough one. I had a bacterial infection/sore throat in Dec 2023 but an antibiotic knocked it right out within days. But this I don’t know what it is. Maybe RSV?

[@lisam1251]

Me and my family all caught covid from the same source in Sept. ‘23, and for ALL of us, our symptoms were not as described in this video. We all came down with symptoms within 24-30 hrs of exposure, and started with mild sore throat that slowly worsened over the first 24 hrs to feel like we were swallowing glass w/gradually worsening throat congestion, fevers of 100-103F with extreme fatigue and aches. The dry cough is the only symptom that matches the description in this video. Just sharing in case it helps.

[@janinegrey6937]

My experience also!

[@emd5095]

Same for my family at thanksgiving

[@sigsin1]

I had other weird symptoms, too. I lost my sense of smell and taste. I ended up getting pneumonia, then I got shingles (even though I’ve been vaccinated) and BPPV. It seemed like I was sick forever.

[@lisam1251]

@@sigsin1 Oh, no!! So sorry to hear that 😥

[@seanrathmakedisciples1508]

@@sigsin1This is why we avoided participating in the experimental biological jabbing project.

[@briangriffiths114]

Very effective short explanatory video.

[@goldiegirl4200]

I do believe I had RSV. I had this many years ago that took 6 weeks to get over. This time around was a little different. The 1st week was feeling tired and run down with tempter spikes. You could see on my arm when my temperature went up, so I increased my water. 2nd week it felt like I had a ton of bricks sitting on my chest and had a dry cough. On the 2nd day of the 2nd week, I had to go home from work from an upset stomach. Slept for 6 hrs got to get something to eat then slept for 10hrs till the next morning. Felt great the next day, though still had the heaviness in my chest. Only having a slightly runny nose. That Wednesday I notice that I was Losing my sense of smell and taste. By the Friday of the 2nd week after work it hit like a truck ran over my body. Everything hurt. By Saturday I couldn't stop sneezing and coughing and body aches all over. Slept most of the weekend away. The 3rd week Monday the body aches were gone felt better tough still tried. The only thing that is left is the draining. My taste and smell are coming back slowly. I do believe having Asthma made it worse having a ton of bricks sitting on my chest and having to fight for breath was exhausting and being older didn't help. I never got a sore throat. I did test for Covid negative, though I was told that I was A- symptomatic at the beginning of Covid.

[@Pilkiesmaknmusic]

I have the same thing, I thought i had pneumonia, doc prescribed antibiotics which aren't doing much after 4 days

[@LDiamondz]

I had RSV in the same way you did. I also have asthma. I also had non stop mucous from the nose, followed by severe chest congestion with non stop mucous being coughed up. It developed into pneumonia, so I was put on antibiotics. It took 2 months to feel almost better. A month later, I got it again, it followed the same course. Except this time I had heart palpitations/arythmia really bad when chest congestion was really bad. I lost 15 pounds as I was too sick to eat much and no appetite. After it was over, I realized I had no sense of smell. Since May '23, I still have only 5% of my sense of smell back. Doctors say that doesn't happen with RSV. It happened to me. Unless it was actually covid and the tests were wrong. So, all told I had RSV with pneumonia for 4-6 months! I'm getting the new vaccine for RSV, this year. I still feel weakened from it to this day.

[@MAXIMUS547]

Thank you for this information. I greatly appreciate it

[@MadHatterDJ-]

I have no idea when I was exposed to what I believe is a heavy cold. But at 3pm I was fine, at 4pm I felt like death 🥺 You forget how horrible the common cold feels until you catch it.

[@jennapitts8373]

That sounds like the flu. It just attacks you out of no where.

[@thefpvlife7785]

So sad that science doesn’t want to fix it but creates medicine to deal with it. It’s always about the money

[@Healthyhealings]

Hi Doc, I just had quad test at my doctors office and had RSV. Now I’m a 44 male and let me tell you I have NEVER felt sicker than I do now! This RSV IS NASTY! Fever, wheezing, cough and short of breath plus EXTREME body aches… why do you suspect it is this bad? ( I know that’s probably hard to answer)

[@joanndaprile9076]

I just had RSV and I have never felt sicker in my life. The weakness that came along with it was overwhelming. I only know it was RSV bc my home Covid was negative, but my mom who is 96 y/o got sick less than a week later, and when I took her to the ER (bc she felt like she was dying), the only test that was positive was RSV. It must be a very virulent strain. She received steroids and this has helped her heal faster, as counter intuitive as that seems. Glad you're on the mend.

[@pattiw6402]

all the sudden there’s an outbreak of adults are getting RSV, coincidentally Pfizer just came out with the vaccine for RSV

[@tombirney7276]

Ultimately just smile at a little one, compliment the mom pushing the kid in the stroller how Beautiful child is in it's outfit. Dopamine enhances our immune system.

[@masudashizue777]

I was hospitalized in January due to pneumonia. I had no appetite whatsoever and my weight plummeted to 108 pounds (normally 120 pounds). I still have to get additional IVs at the hospital.

[@LDiamondz]

Same for me, I had RSV TWICE, back to back, with about 3 weeks of getting better in between. It developed into pneumonia both times due to asthma, possibly. I lost 15 pounds, and my sense of smell. The RSV got better around May '23. Still coughed till July. My sense of smell is about only 5% now. Taste is about 25%. I'm getting the new RSV vaccine this fall. I can't go through that again.

[@grecuccionicola]

i've had a lot of sore throat and a lot of cough and my test was negative, lasted at least a week, it started with a mild cold, and got worse day by day, even my eyes started to stick, now i'm better, but it's like that there is smoke in the air , when i breathe .

[@richyp64]

I'm terrified for my friends and family that took the you know what.

[@truthseeker6337]

I vouch for the smoothies. Guy knows what's he's talking about if it comes to smoothies!

[@renferal5290]

I recently travelled out of the country and didn't get sick at all. I have never had the flu in my life., just the odd cold here and there. Furthermore, I have always found that having a snort of brandy really helps me feel better, whenever I feel poorly.

[@jillmondt5398]

I agree, from experience myself. Nothing like a stiff shot of brandy to cook those viruses.

[@JanellePhalen]

I think I had RSV about 7 weeks ago. Incubation period was about 7 days. It did start with a severe sore throat, but the cough is moist and I was wheezing. I'm still coughing up gunk. I also tested negative for Covid.

[@gregblackburn4280]

Janelle....so what Covid booster are you on? Asking for a friend in Minecraft.

[@janjans1178]

Exactly the question i googled yesterday! Thanks Doc!

[@sandylewis8897]

Not sure about the Covid 3-5 days incubation. I have had it 3x now, and each time I developed symptoms 1-2 days after exposure.

[@biodivers5294]

Your immunity matters most, all the attackers have to struggle with it 💪

[@jeremywvarietyofviewpoints3104]

Excellent video. I don't know if I had heard of RSV before.

[@Rose-yd7bn]

Your are the best, thank you! Happy Holidays to you, God Bless you. 🙏💕🙏

[@luciavasile2895]

Awesome video clip dr. Mike👌👍🧠💪

[@DoctorMikeHansen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cathyurratio862]

Was Covid (+) and had high fever for 4 days, forceful wet cough for 2 weeks so bad I pulled a muscle in my back. Sore throat never really went away. No body aches, but was so weak I could barely get out of bed and when I did move, it just triggered a coughing fit. no idea where / when I was exposed. First time getting Covid and I’m a normally healthy, fit 60 yr old. Horrible 2 weeks.

[@jimmcconnell7328]

It’s hard to figure out what I had. It started with watery eyes,runny nose and sore throat. This was gradual,then came a dry cough. Woke up in the middle of the night wheezing. Even after a month I still haven’t got my taste and smell back. The doctor figured I had a throat infection put me on antibiotics and prednisone because my throat was swelling. I do know there was a lot of influenza A going around at the time. So who knows?

[@SanaaStark]

Glad i found this video. Its the second time in 3 weeks that Im experiencing covid- flu 🤒

[@jim7060]

Excellent doctor Hanson thank you so much for posting this.

[@MyShyCats]

Symptoms vary. I just got over COVID and was a giant well of mucus for two weeks.

[@gregblackburn4280]

Mad....according to a blood antibody test, I've had Covid. The only times I've been ill in the last decade was in Nov '21 and Jan. '22. Both times did the I MASK Protocol of vitamins, Ivermectin 2x a day for my bodyweight, both times well in 3 days. No flu symptoms at all (no fatigue, no joint pain, no loss of taste or smell). Spicy noodles knocked the congestion out in less than an hour first time, second illness nothing would moderate the congestion but it was completely gone in two weeks. No vax...natural immunity for the win!

[@Humandesignmagyarul]

Finally a video that actually explains this. Thank you

[@marieleroux9278]

Dr. Hansen I had COVID 3 times now and the only symptom I had was extreme joint pain. No flu like symptoms or fever. I had both my shots. I also take Vit C and folic acid tablets every day for the past 4 years.

[@ginnydare13]

Beware of the joint pain. The big C attacks your weakest link. My mom's was joint pain which developed into rheumatoid arthritis.

[@daw7773]

Vitamin D is used to treat people with COVID too.

[@Peppermint1]

I got Covid in December 2023 and RSV in January 2024. One week interval between the two. RSV is the mother of all dry coughing, the itching in the throat is unbearable without Tylenol Cold/Cough. But the real problem with RSV is long term lung secretions and wet coughing that start once the virus goes away. I'm 2 weeks with these secretions, my daughter is 3 months in. Don't know what to do about it. Comparing Omicron with RSV, Omicron irritates the nasopharynx (upper throat), RSV goes straight into lungs (feels like chest 'freshness') + lower throat itching. 2 weeks rest for each. Both cause coughing, RSV coughing is much worse and can turn into long term bronchiolitis.

[@Monika-fh1bl]

Thank you! Very useful information.

[@justmadeit2]

I’ve caught something here for n England. Aches all over, no appetite and a very low mood

[@ginnydare13]

Look up how to make pine needle tea, it's free and it's the best medicine. I make it with fresh white pine needles, purified water, cloves, add honey and lemon to taste. You'll start feeling better right away. Just make sure you know your pine tree before brewing 🌲 🍵🍯🍋

[@tristramgordon8252]

Cold or flu, grow a brain and learn to read.

[@ginnydare13]

@@tristramgordon8252 smeg off

[@jillianemerson6255]

Low mood has had me down Along with extreme fatigue long lasting 2 weeks I had a painful Cough coming from deep in my lungs, headache. FTigue was debilitating and am still abed with it. I thought I might have a depressive episode which I am Prone to but this is the most extreme case of flat on my back fatigue I have encounteted

[@ginnydare13]

@jillian emerson make the pine needle tea if you can. Mercury is currently retrograde so that is adding to the heaviness.

[@reneeleegreco1603]

Also many people don’t understand how fresh air helps to stop the spread of

[@nenem.5165]

As always very informative. I am on pins and needles everyday for my kids but at the same time we have to let them live. My two older boys go to basketball camp which is outdoor and it's great.and my 3 year old is home with me. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do to prevent these viruses. What I do is keep reminding my boys to not touch their face, sanitize and in worst cases put their mask on and most importantly I pray pray for their health. Also vitamins. Thanks Dr. Hansen I always learn so much from you.

[@jasonhsu4711]

I disagree with your fatalistic view that there are no actions you can take to prevent or at least mitigate the impacts of these viruses. Some precautions: 1. Masking up: This should be a no-brainer when sharing indoor air with others outside your household, because it reduces the viral load that makes it into the nose and mouth. Or maybe I missed the memo stating that masking up is like wearing high spike-heeled shoes. 2. Avoid junk food: Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, refined grains, vegetable seed oils, food dyes, and other unhealthy ingredients weaken the immune system and promote inflammation. For this reason, I've been avoiding junk foods and restaurant foods due to the pandemic. While I made a limited return to them in October (after getting my updated COVID booster in the first half of September), the rise of RSV has since prompted me to go back to the junk-food-free and restaurant-food-free bubble. 3. Eat a greater quantity and variety of healthy foods: This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and probiotic foods. Try to cover the whole rainbow of colors with the fruits and vegetables you eat, because each color tends to correlate with certain nutrients. 4. Get enough selenium: One Brazil nut per person per day is plenty. If that's not an option, then get selenium from supplements. (There are multivitamins containing selenium, and there are stand-alone selenium supplements.) Just don't go overboard, because it's possible to become sick or dead from excessive amounts of selenium. 5. Get enough Vitamin D3: The US RDA is a lowball joke. Everyone should consume more like 50% to 100% of the Tolerable Upper Intake, which is set too conservatively. If you KNOW that your blood Vitamin D level is too low, or if you've never taken Vitamin D3 supplements, it's probably a good idea to take a much higher TEMPORARY loading dose for a few weeks (such as 10,000 to 20,000 IUs per day) to ramp up your Vitamin D level and then reduce to a lower maintenance dose. 6. Use a xylitol nasal spray: Add this to everyone's daily routine. You can buy some (but avoid the ones with the drugs), or you can make your own with distilled water, salt, xylitol, and drops of grapefruit seed extract. It's said that saline and xylitol make it harder for viruses to attach to cells. I don't know how well this works, but t doesn't hurt. NONE of the other precautions do anything to fight viral loads in the stagnant nasal passages. (At least your throat gets flushed every time you drink water.)

[@jasonhsu4711]

I hope that you and your family have all had your flu shots and updated COVID boosters. Vaccination should be a no-brainer. In the case of the updated COVID booster, it's better to be 1 variant behind than 7 variants behind. If you're concerned about side effects, that's another reason to consume a healthy diet and get enough selenium and Vitamin D. Bad diets and nutritional deficiencies promote inflammation.

[@nenem.5165]

@@jasonhsu4711 Jason amazing advice. Thanks so much.

[@SymphonicEllen]

​@@jasonhsu4711 Masking during heavy activity was not advised, especially not for kids. Not even by the WHO, whom I don't trust anyways, but at the very least they didn't recommend for anyone under 6. the rest is great, just don't forget their protein. Three of the best things for a kiddo is red meat, egg yolk, and raw milk. A2 is a good second option. If you're worried about humane treatment, get from the Amish or something. They use no synthetic fertilizer or anything. Very good. Dr Aseem Malhotra was one of the people gung ho about the shot and has retracted, as well as Dr Paul Offit as far as the booster for young people, but if you really and truly want to, get a D dimer test after to check for clotting, and don't overdo intense exercise. Some is ok. You can still go for a walk or something like that.

[@MegsTruther-wl4rx]

​@@jasonhsu4711k2 and vit d go hand in hand and work with eachother well! I take tons of vitamins and minerals and just over last couple years have added k2 to my vitamin d and I also take atleast 10000 iu a day. Everyone should

[@nicolacoke7538]

Thank you Dr Mike .medical evidence we could use to stay healthy and keep our family healthy 💯

[@tristramgordon8252]

What evidence ? Opinion, nothing else, NO EVIDENCE

[@nicolacoke7538]

@@tristramgordon8252 I having shrimp 🍤 do want some 😀

[@nicolacoke7538]

@@andred3299 you can go shopping if you want, but , I am not taking you , take the bus😄 ,,Thanks

[@cgr4550]

When CV was the big bad contagion, the other three did not exist. Now that the novelity of the novel cv has worn off the others have to take up the slack. I heard they could all be just a catagorization of the same thing. The severity of the cv determines the name that gets put on it. I don't know because I am just a old guy waiting for one or more of them to kill me off.

[@amyalewine]

Flu was none existent since Covid came around. Some will say because we wore mask. Mask didn't stop covid but they stopped the Flu. Cant have it both ways. Covid was all the normal conditions we always get sick by. The only difference was the way doctors treated it. They didn't use medicine to stop it they waited and put everyone on Ventilators while giving them Remdesivir along with Propofol and Fentanyl until they died in the hospital.

[@timbeck6726]

😂that last line...ditto for me bud.

[@JB-cm2vp]

Constantly sneezing like insane runny nose and hardly any cough man no fever... Just sleepless nights with these fricken sneezes. That is literally my only symptoms. Insanely runny nose and i cant stop sneezing. For days now. Days now.

[@kathleenharrell3981]

I have the exact same symptoms, except mine started with a sore throat, that got better and evolved into runny nose tickle in my throat and constant sneezing. How long were you sick? I've been sick for 6 days and nothing is helping.

[@frankcarone6]

i went and got a rsv shot at walgreens , 2 days later i tested positive for covid mild case 1 week later i am doing ok

[@mariotop4549]

Me having crippling anxiety about diarrhea and/or vomiting (I am experiencing anxiety and OCD), these viruses will be an issue for me.

[@nightlily3855]

Husband and I had the same Covid virus (he got it from me) but completely different illnesses. Mine felt like a flu with fever and muscle aches, his was exactly like a head cold with no fever. Mine cleared at day 7 (no symptoms, negative test) his lasted at least 2 weeks and positive for 10 days. Go figure.

[@joecan7460]

Both vaccinated no doubt

[@TeressaStuckey-psychdata]

​@@joecan7460 😂😂you win the dumbest comment award in this thread. No doubt.😂😂

[@joecan7460]

@@TeressaStuckey-psychdata why do you think that?

[@kainalunirvana]

what do you call nasal congestion that runs down backside of throat… not the front out the nose

[@DONNACEDOHIOK12]

We can’t because all of the medical professionals head turning silence doesn’t measure the aces underlying conditions that are also known as Covid comorbidities. Only the aces underlying conditions have been around for 30 years longer than Covid.

[@Angie2343]

Interesting, Dr. Hansen.

[@tracygarner5912]

What about swollen or tender nodes in the neck?

[@KurtCobain617-q1m]

☹️

[@zzubuzz]

I think I got SRV, I stayed home from work today and played my Stratocaster.

[@Carolmaizy]

Could be. It's confusing, even for doctors. Mine wasn't sure- just knew that it wasn't bacterial. Going by this video, maybe it was a severe cold. I'm 66 and haven't experienced a genuine, long-lasting cold in decades.He just treated the symptoms and said things would start to improve in a week or so. He was right, but it was one tough week! Maybe as the video says, it's due to not being exposed to germs during the covid years.

[@drrettner]

How long after symptoms disappear are people no longer contagious? Let me know.

[@marciwhitman3513]

He didn't even mention an upper respiratory infection or a sinus infection. These are all related.

[@brodietaym8475]

Got covid last April in what I assume is Omicron, and my symptoms were not at all like what was described here. I'm also not quite so sure about this "people's immunity was weakened over past few years from lack of exposure" narrative I keep hearing on repeat, because it scientifically doesn't make sense especially if you're an adult. I can understand that with kids but not so much with health adults.

[@lisam1251]

My covid symptoms were also not like described here. And I am 100% with you about thinking that it doesn’t make sense about the weakened immunity due to masks, etc. I ran this past my 2 friends who are very reputable infectious disease Dr’s, and they say that it’s only true for certain people, not the general population.

[@brodietaym8475]

@@lisam1251 exactly!

[@vonabod4259]

Ok, but which one causes ear and upper throat problems the most? It seems like I am having all the time something..🙄

[@f.remplakowski]

I had a question, I may have had RSV and while I feel better I am usually left (from previous experiences) with a long-term cough that in some cases can persist for up to 6 months. Is there something I can do to either prevent this or aid the recovery process? Thank you for the informative videos

[@chickensdontsurf]

Try lemonade, it worked for me, for some reason.

[@f.remplakowski]

@@chickensdontsurf I’ve been making a fresh ginger, lemon and honey drink but that has done its job in getting me over the initial illness and doesn’t do much else afterwards as I carry on drinking it. I’m just wondering if this is fluid build up in the lungs, maybe there is some other damage after the sick period. I don't think it's normal to have a persistent cough for so long after the actual illness.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I can get this, with painful chest congestion, for months after a respiratory infection. The best thing that ever worked for me was to go on long, hard, vigorous walks every day and cough hard. It clears up quickly after that, it sounds weird, I know, but it’s worth a try. I also lost a lot of weight, which was welcome, so I kept it up afterward and lost 35 lbs. that winter! (Wait until you’re feeling well again otherwise before starting). Hope this works for you, my climate is a mild one, yours might be too cold right now). Another thing that might help is to take OTC Gufenisen (I’m not sure of spelling, the pharmacist will know), the ingredient in Robitussin DM, to break up the congestion, if the cough if a wet one. If any cough goes on and on, better see a doctor.🙂

[@cynthiacole6140]

No matter which viral illness I have ever had I lose taste and smell.

[@traceyannmassay4144]

So I spritz my hair Sunday night with water and went to bed. On a Monday morning I woke up with a fever 38.3c no other symptoms, Tuesday fever at 38.3 c, mild coughing then I tested positive with a home test.

[@stephenscharf6293]

Respectfully, you didn’t explain how to distinguish a common cold from these other viral respiratory infections. So…how DO you distinguish a common cold from the other three respiratory infections? You can be as technical as you want Mike, because I’m a PhD-level molecular biologist. Thanks, and cheers.

[@zstopperuno]

They're all RNA viruses which need replicase enzyme to reproduce. Inhibit replicase with zinc and an ionophore such as quercetin or green tea extract.

[@paytonfarar834]

You can say whatever you want to say there's a new mRNA RSV virus vaccine just developed in Approval Apr to thousand 23 and then all of a sudden we go to Spike an RSV not a conspiracy

[@andym9571]

I have had all 3 and can say that with me RSV was by far the worse. Maybe because it was just after lockdowns.

[@PrestonProdzzzzOFFICIAL]

Today I just got diagnosed with scarlet fever, and they can’t tell what type of COVID I have

[@vivianrios6007]

Hi!! Dr. Mike. Holiday greetings and blessings. 🙏🏼☺️

[@jq5843]

Remember when things were just the flu or a cold or the stomach flu? Miss those days. Sick of this Covid game.

[@kyleitaliano9079]

A PCR test is how you tell the difference PCR can test and identify all viruses

[@Carinjks]

Very helpful-thank you

[@okchawk2k]

Oh my gosh, you really think the majority of us are going to believe you, as a medical professional, know the difference? You doctors are incredible! You spent all of 2020 and 2021 calling everything from a bee sting to a cut on the head the result of c19 while ignoring the flu in any other respiratory illness. Everything was c19, blah blah blah. Now you expect us to believe you know the difference. You and your industry sacrificed your integrity and in so doing so lost the respect of the bulk of your potential patience

[@ZekromAmaterasu]

I'm pretty sure I caught a cold. I started out with a sore throat that lasted only 24-48 hours. Next day I was feeling congested, but was clearing out very fast. By day 3 I had a wet cough (I was coughing out mucus at a rapid rate despite being congested). By day 5 I got hit with a gnarly headache that went away overnight and now my congestion is mostly clear.

[@sarahk.5308]

Thanks for the information ❤

[@yasminraninkumar6905]

What is the place of Rapid multiplex PCR in diagnosis?

[@solapowsj25]

Keep warm with warm clothing, scarf, and muffler; avoid cold, and take a healthy diet 🥦🍎🥗🍌. Prevention is better than cure. 👍

[@dmathmothtutinean8950]

“Symptoms arrive after exposure “…NOT like anyone will know when they were exposed 🧐🧐

[@ddmpowell]

I got CoVID and I know exactly who I got it from. My sister in law who came to their Christmas gathering with a “cold” because she never tested. I suppose I could have got it from the church service I attended the next day but no one was actively showing symptoms and most people at my church stay home if they are sick. I started with symptoms exactly 4 days after seeing her. People have not learned the lesson to stay home when they are sick. If you aren’t going to stay home at least wear a mask!! I won’t go to a family gathering if I am actively showing symptoms. I will now have to miss my family Christmas on New Year’s Eve and I had to cancel a visit to my parents who can not make it to our family gathering because my mom just had a pacemaker put in.

[@Tylnorton]

@@ddmpowellGo see your sister in law and stay close as possible if she wants to to act like it's not a big deal.

[@miltonsegura]

Sometimes you can know

[@mdev4544]

Hmmm Just like every other viral illness....common cold, pneumonia, strep throat, bronchitis, flu....all arrive after exposure and yes you catch it from others .. that's why they advise....wash, wash, wash your hands frequently and do not place your hands anywhere near your face, nose, ears, mouth...simple but a powerful deterrent against viral illnesses.

[@jst601]

Curious....do any of the people who've commented below on catching an illness...do they practice a daily supplement regiment of any kind? Anything to boost the immune system as part of their lifestyle?

[@tyrinasaurusrex1206]

A couple years ago I had gotten food poisoning and was bed ridden for 3 weeks. It was horrible then it took me about 2 more weeks to feel about 70% then once I felt better I ended up with RSV. I was bed ridden for like 2 weeks and back to work about 2 weeks later. Then the next month i ended up with a cold. Let me tell you that was not my year lol

[@gregbadwolf7350]

Left ear mono audio.

[@traianliviudanciu8665]

Did we know at what tissue temperature did SARS COV2 better replicate? Why? Because at TWiV 659 at min29 virologist Christian Drosten suggest that SARS COV2 better replicate at very low tissue temperature. Rhinoviruses also?(cold viruses) If SARS COV2 better replicate at very low tissue temperature,may be higher body temperature protect against SARS COV2 infection?

[@joeespin4377]

how prevalent is RSV. how worried should one be about developing or catching it. is hospitalization the ONLY treatment for it.

[@lw1zfog]

the A.D.E. is endemic

[@HansBetaalt]

What if you have been experiencing symptoms for weeks?

[@sharonbutterfield6622]

Thanks for posting this very infomative

[@lisaskidgel-yn1oj]

I got tested at the ER and I had Covid and influenza A at the same time.

[@leonoraowens1339]

I've had all 3..hand's down rsv was the worst..I'm recovering from rsv as we speak

[@drrettner]

Loss of sense of taste and smell is a classic sign of zinc deficiency. When someone who is zinc deficient gets sick, it uses up their zinc reserves and they get the symptoms.

[@el_chino778]

thanks for this very helpful

[@lolitagrant6751]

Saturday, my husband, who had been coughing his guts out for 3 weeks, two days before Christmas, had enough and went to the Dr. They did a few swabs. I had Delta two and 1/2 years ago, was hospitalized, then long Covid, lost all my hair, etc. My son caught it from me, but he never did. We couldn't believe. Be tested for 6 weeks. With his bad cough, not once did any of us suspect he had covid. His swab for Covid showed a weak positive, the Dr told him, which meant, he was at the end of it or the start of it. We were floored. Sunday, I took a home Covid test not feeling sick at all, but feared I could have now symptoms and be a carrier. Negative. My husband took a home test. Negative. Tuesday, he went back to Dr, and dropped another positive. This time, they did not say, it was a "weak" one; and, the prior Dr, who had seen him wrote, "positive." The only symptom, he had, was a cough. Now, its starting on me. Yesterday, my head was stopped up tight as a drum, and this morning my throat was sore. Here's my question: Are clots still a concern for Covid patient's?

[@suzettebeebe1449]

From my understanding, the clots are a result of being jabbed.

[@johnorosz7477]

I just tested positive for COVID and SARS but the doctor treated it like a cold. I came home and have been sick now for over 2 weeks!

[@colinsmith1288]

I hope you have recovered. I got covid around the same time and suffering with long covid.

[@Das801E]

Thank u for sharing. My grandbaby got rsv. And got treat by Dr. I felt my body fighting it ! On the 5 day it hit me on my 8th/9th day of exposure which today. Is my worst I am going to get checked cause I had COVID too many times

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Two questions: 1) doesn’t RSV only infect young children?; 2) how does anyone, including the medical community, know which viruses are affecting populations? I’ve never been tested to determine which virus I have, not even once in 62 years, doctors just say “it doesn’t matter, the treatment is the same”. No one I know has ever been tested, either, I’ve asked many people, wondering if this was just Kaiser being super-cheap on testing. It’s true, I suppose, that home treatment is the same for all of these viruses unless complications develop, but then how do the epidemiologists track these common viral diseases? I got my flu shot and COVID bivalent booster, of course, and am masking out in public, nuisance that it is for us glasses wearers. I’d rather not get even a cold, I had one terrible cold (I think) that lasted more than three weeks once, with the running-faucet nose stage for almost ten days, it was so annoying and uncomfortable, it seemed like it would never go away. (I woke up with it that first morning with almost-black undereye circles, and it really kicked my you-know-what.

[@darlar.9043]

RSV does not just affect young children. As an adult, I have had it more than once from working it small children. I am 64 now and my doctor recently recommended the vaccine.

[@danettewelborn5577]

No, I had RSV recently. Kids do get it, it's a virus and affects adults too. I wish people would stop saying only kids can get it. I was in the ER and out of work 3 weeks with it. It's terrible.

[@MrBears25]

I recently got Brain Fog still have it, Fatigue, leg tingling, and chills.

[@MsNooneinparticular]

Everybody keeps attributing our reduced immunity to lockdowns/masks, but what about all those studies showing that COVID causes "long-term perturbations" in T-cells similar to HIV/AIDS? They're even using the term "opportunistic infection" in hospitalized patients with COVID. These immune suppressions may last (at least) 6 months after a single infection, and that's about how often the virus takes to come back around. That's seriously worrying IMO.

[@dgeorge]

I had the flu recently and had a high fever lasted 3 days it was pretty bad the first day but really not much symptoms besides the fever and severe weakness

[@LindaGailLamb.0808]

Well, my immune system has been challenged.... had a flu shot and covid booster at the end of October. Then (mid December) came down with what was 95% chance my yearly winter cold - meh. About 4 days of runny nose, minor cough and frog voice, not worth testing for anything. My biggest risk now is frostbite: it's ❄-30°C❄where I am right now 🇨🇦.

[@nightlily3855]

Did you test for covid? My husband had covid a month after his booster and it felt exactly like a bad head cold.

[@joecan7460]

@@nightlily3855 coo cooo

[@mariantoniettasacco7859]

Continuate con le dosi.....cosj andra tutto bene 😮

[@iraelfuego6075]

Rsv is no joke. Its worse then covid today, alot of coughing, mucus , no sleep !! Because your constantly walking up to coughing mucus.

[@TopFlightSecurity415]

i think i have rsv...gonna take a test just incase

[@gerwinguzon2968]

Dr. What is happening in china? Chinese vaccine?

[@gabrielhung1647]

Thank you Dr Hansen. As ordinary people, it is difficulty to differences between these viruses symptoms. I will take the Covid antigen of rapid test instead! 😅

[@datsuntoyy]

They're pretty good as far as false negatives go but last I checked they had a problem with false positive.

[@nightlily3855]

@@datsuntoyy I wonder if it has to do with the brand. The ones I got in Canada were bang on for everyone in our family. They even showed the viral load getting weaker as lines became lighter and lighter.

[@datsuntoyy]

@@nightlily3855 Qualitative tests have no bearing on viral load. I've worked medical lab for 20 years, the darkness of the line has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's a different test entirely. We have 4 different PCR tests at work for covid testing. Very few false positive or negatives.

[@andrewisvrycool]

@@nightlily3855 Which ones did you use? We’re they the rapid response ones? (Green box or white box with green on top)

[@Ms.LisaDawn]

Not bragging but I had them all. Just got over C.O.V.I.D. three or four days before getting this I carried a headache and chest pain. Than one night I laid under two throws, to heavy quilts, blanket and bed spread and chilled 4 hours. The next day I was congested and could not clear my sinuses. Also my fever spiked and fell down very quickly. I went to my doctor they tested me, and it was positive. I felt like I'd been hit by an 18 wheeler. R.S.V. I was tested for last year and it is extremely bad on the lungs especially the lower lobes. In my area the only medicine that was given to me was steroids and the pills to soothe coughing they are called pearls. Usually R.S.V. runs two weeks. Very hard to cough the mucus from lungs it goes away on it's own. Treatment might be different for babies and elderly. Influenza different types. Viral. One type gives you a sore throat, body aches and another gives you nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea with this especially you have to watch your potassium levels. Low levels can cause heart issues and severe muscle cramps. Any illness that causes electrolyte imbalance creates this issue. Most important advice. Get the flu shot and keep your pneumonia shots up to date because most of these illnesses can turn to pneumonia. C.O.V.I.D. vaccines questionable. You have to do what's right for you. C.O.V.I.D. is far worse than a common cold.

[@lesbrown8099]

Thank you...

[@terryroberts7647]

Hi Dr.Hansen good see you again great video as always! Take care pal ✌️👍 people don't forget hit the like button 👍👍👍👍👍 Dr.Hansen puts lot his time into this he Is awesome and the best thanks inadvance have a good day

[@lestranged]

Currently on day 7 of what I think is a bad cold. Home covid test was negative. When I actually had covid in 2021 it was so mild, it was like mild hay fever symptoms! A little sneezing and runny nose but no coughing or fatigue. Never lost smell or taste. Symptom-wise, I would take covid over this freakin cold any day!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Thank you