Cold, RSV or Influenza: How To Tell the Difference

When your child isn't feeling well in San Ramon, & Pleasanton, CA, sick visits may be called for. The pediatricians at TRI-Valley Pediatrics have the tools they need to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses including a cold, RSV, or Influenza.

When it comes to diagnosing and treating childhood illnesses, your pediatrician has tests these days that can distinguish the difference between some of the common things your child may be suffering from. For parents, it may be hard to distinguish between a cold, RSV, and influenza, but there are some differences in the symptoms. If you live in San Ramon, & Pleasanton, CA, go in for sick visits to make sure what your child has.

Cold

The common cold can be caused by more than one type of virus, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses. The symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and a sore throat. A cold will come on slowly with symptoms developing over a period of time. You may experience a loss of smell and taste due to heavy congestion. A common cold rarely advances to anything more serious. A cold usually lasts a week or more and the cough can hang around for several weeks. Colds tend to last longer the younger you are. There is no test to identify a cold. 

RSV

RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) tends to present itself four to six days after exposure to the virus. RSV has all the symptoms of a common cold, in addition to fever and loss of appetite. Another symptom is wheezing, which the other two don't have.  If it seems like a bad cold with wheezing, get your child to the pedestrian as quickly as possible for a test.

Influenza

Influenza is caused by influenza viruses. The symptoms of the flu are similar to the common cold but more serious. Flu symptoms usually come on quite suddenly, and it is not uncommon to feel like you have been hit by a freight train. In addition to all the symptoms that come with a cold, you will likely have a fever, chills, and a headache. If you or your child just wants to stay in bed, and they hurt all over, it is probably the flu, but if things seem bad, visit your pediatrician and get tested for influenza.

Contact the pediatricians at TRI-Valley Pediatrics in San Ramon, & Pleasanton, CA when sick visits are needed. You can reach us at our Pleasanton Office at (925) 460-8444 or the San Ramon Office at (925) 380-6230. We can also be reached through our website.