RSV, Flu or Cold - How To Tell the Difference and Prevent Illness in Your Child

If you have children, when cold and flu season rolls around you can usually know what to expect in terms of symptoms and how to treat them, and when it's a good idea to call the doctor. But there is also respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which can cause very similar symptoms, along with other similar conditions that require different care. It can be difficult for you to distinguish between these on your own, so this article should provide a few simple guidelines, but to learn much more you can always reach out to your child's pediatrician directly, such as your local experts of Decatur Pediatric Group in Clarkston, Lithonia, and Smyrna, GA.

Signs and Symptoms

The three different conditions are caused by three different viruses, influenza, rhinovirus, and the syncytial virus. These can lead to the flu, the common cold, and RSV respectively.

Common symptoms of the common cold are a runny nose and a light cough, it is typically the mildest of the three, although everyone's reaction to it will differ, just as with all of them.

The flu has some similar symptoms but can also lead to high fever and body aches, becoming much more than a nuisance.

RSV can affect your entire respiratory system, such as your nose, throat and lungs. The symptoms are also similar to a cold but it can lead to dangerous complications in children, possibly leading to pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Pediatrician in Clarkston, Lithonia, and Smyrna, GA

You can visit your pediatrician to help manage any symptoms, and although all three conditions are typically mild it's important to seek your doctor's advice, especially for concerning symptoms.

If you are concerned about your child's flu-like symptoms or are looking for help preventing complications from any of the above-mentioned conditions you can schedule a consultation with your local pediatricians of Decatur Pediatric Group in Clarkston, Lithonia, and Smyrna, GA by dialing (404) 296-7133.

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Clarkston Location

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Smyrna Location

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Lithonia Location

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed