While we’re no longer required to test for these winter viruses – if unwell try to stay at home and avoid contact to prevent spread of infections to more vulnerable groups
As temperatures plummet across the country, winter viruses will be once again making the rounds, but not all of them will be easy to detect.
Most of us will get ill at one point during the winter, and in most cases, will only ever experience mild cold or flu symptoms. In rarer cases, urgent medical care may be required.
Here are the key symptoms to look out for if you start to feel under the weather this winter – and what to do if your symptoms worsen.
How can I tell if I have Covid, the flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) or a common cold?
Whether you’re battling the flu, Covid or the common cold, the three viruses can be hard to distinguish because they’re often very similar. All report symptoms such as headaches, coughs, runny/blocked noses, sore throats, fevers, chills, achy and sore muscles. One of the more standout symptoms for Covid-19 is that patients usually experience a loss or change to their sense of taste and smell.
Almost all children are infected with RSV by the time they’re two years old, and while most will only ever experience mild symptoms, urgent medical care will be needed if you or your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or if you are experiencing worsening symptoms.
Some unlucky patients with respiratory infections will be prone to vomiting and diarrhoea which may also require further attention. In any case where symptoms grow unbearable or a patient is struggling to breathe, you must seek ugent medical attention.
Dr Sam McConkey, consultant in infectious diseases at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, explains: “It’s nearly impossible to know which virus you have. For example, SARS-CvC-2 [Covid] is mostly causing coughs, headaches and sore throats now, while in 2020, before we were all vaccinated, it was causing respiratory failure and pneumonia.”
Do I still need to get tested if I get ill?
According to the NHS, you are no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms, but if you’re unwell, you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with others to prevent spreading the infection.
Dr McConkey says there is no longer a huge benefit in knowing what virus you have. He said: “The Health Protection Surveillance Centre publishes weekly data on notifiable infectious diseases (including Covid, Flu, RSV) gathered from a number of GPs throughout Ireland to monitor outbreaks. And people are tested in hospitals, so those with flu or Covid are put in single rooms or with others with the same virus but otherwise tests are unnecessary now.”
Experts in the US have noted that the self-administered Covid antigen tests may not pick up the latest JN.1 variant until day four or five, at which point, the virus to may have already been spread to others.
What’s the best way I can look after myself when I’m sick?
Most viruses can be cared for at home and will usually clear between two to three weeks. The usual advice is to drink plenty of fluids and to take paracetamol-based medicines to control fevers and manage pain. During this time, it’s important to stay at home, avoid contact with others and keep your children at home from school to prevent the virus from spreading.
When I should seek urgent medical treatment or advice?
Some lower respiratory symptoms will require urgent medical attention, either at a GP surgery, out-of-hours doctor services or at an Emergency Department. Dr McConkey says: “If you experience uncontrollable shivering – called the rigours – in that your arms and legs are shaking and your teeth are chattering, you need prompt medical care because you are likely to have a deep-seated infection. Secondly, if you are coughing up yellow or green phlegm, you need a chest X-ray and antibiotics and thirdly, if you have shortness of breath so much that you can’t finish a sentence, you need to see a GP or go to an Emergency Room.”
How can I prevent catching a virus this winter?
It’s important that you take the steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during flu season, with the general advice being to regularly wash your hands, sneeze into your elbow and wear a face mask in busy public spaces, such as on public transport.
Those who are vulnerable or have existing medical conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, or those living with a young baby or a pregnant woman should avoid crowded indoor spaces for the next few weeks.
It’s also recommended to keep up to date with all your Covid and flu vaccines.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
