{"id":503644,"date":"2024-01-08T10:48:41","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T15:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?p=503644"},"modified":"2024-01-08T10:52:06","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T15:52:06","slug":"is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wellness\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inova.org\/doctors\/christopher-p-connolly-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Christopher Connolly<\/a><em> is a board-certified internal medicine physician at Inova Primary Care with more than 24 years of clinical experience.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It might start as a sniffle or a headache. You know you\u2019re coming down with something \u2014 but what? Is it just a cold? Or could it be RSV, the flu or COVID-19? Do you need to call your doctor or just hit the couch?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can often tell these viruses apart \u2014 if you know what to look for. From there, you can determine when you need to seek medical care.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-different-viruses-different-symptoms\">Different Viruses, Different Symptoms\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At first glance, colds, flu, RSV, and COVID-19 can look alike. All of them can start with symptoms that feel like a \u201chead cold.\u201d But a closer look reveals that these illnesses have some key differences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-cold-symptoms\">Common Cold Symptoms\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The mildest of these viruses, the common cold, usually doesn\u2019t require a doctor&#8217;s visit. You probably have a cold if your symptoms come on slowly and get worse over a period of one to three days.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common cold symptoms usually include the following:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cough, which can be dry or productive (coughing up phlegm)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fatigue (typically mild)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runny or stuffy nose&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sneezing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sore or scratchy throat&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watery eyes&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A cold will usually not cause:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Body aches&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High fever&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of taste or smell&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wheezing&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-signs-of-the-flu\">Signs of the Flu\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The flu tends to make people more miserable than a cold. One of the first signs that it\u2019s not a cold is its sudden onset. Within hours, you go from feeling fine to feeling terrible. If you have the flu, your symptoms may include the following:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Body and muscle aches&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chills&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dry cough&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fatigue (often severe)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High fever up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which lasts up to 4 days&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of appetite&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vomiting or diarrhea (usually in children)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s less common for people with the flu to experience:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Productive cough&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stuffy or runny nose&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wheezing or trouble breathing&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-spotting-symptoms-of-rsv\">Spotting Symptoms of RSV\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Respiratory syncytial virus feels like a common cold to most young, healthy adults. But it\u2019s not \u201cjust a cold.\u201d Thousands of people \u2014 mostly adults over age 65 and infants \u2014 are hospitalized or die each year from RSV.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms of RSV often come on in stages and last a total of seven to 14 days. Healthy adults may experience cold-like symptoms such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dry cough&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runny nose&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sneezing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sore throat&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Babies under 12 months of age and adults over age 65 may have more serious symptoms, including the following:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Barking cough&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cough with a lot of mucus&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fever&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Irritability&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of appetite&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>RSV can become severe and cause trouble breathing, which can be life-threatening. Seek emergency medical care if you notice:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blue lips or fingernails&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nostrils flaring&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rapid breathing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wheezing&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-covid-19-symptoms\">COVID-19 Symptoms\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The current COVID-19 variant causes gradual, cold-like symptoms in most people. But like RSV, COVID-19 can be serious in older adults and people with other medical conditions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include the following:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Body and muscle aches&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cough&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Diarrhea or vomiting&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fatigue&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fever and chills&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of taste or smell&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runny or stuffy nose&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sore throat&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Loss of taste or smell is a telltale sign of COVID-19. This symptom is much less common with other illnesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-to-recover-at-home\">When to Recover at Home\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the time, people recover from these infections on their own, but there are exceptions. RSV can be dangerous for infants and older adults. COVID-19 and flu are more serious for older adults and people with other health issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best course of action with a mild virus is to stay home to avoid spreading the illness to others. If you don\u2019t have other health conditions or a weakened immune system, you can:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drink plenty of water or other non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rest as much as possible;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve symptoms;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use nasal saline for a stuffy nose.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re concerned about any symptoms, don\u2019t wait it out. Contact your primary care provider or head to an urgent care facility. Many medical offices offer telehealth visits so you can discuss your symptoms without leaving home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-you-need-a-test\">When You Need a Test\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most medical offices can do rapid tests for COVID-19, the flu, and RSV. Testing can be helpful:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It tells your provider what kind of treatment you may need. For example, some people may benefit from antiviral medication for COVID-19 or the flu.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It helps you protect others. If you find out you have RSV and you plan to be around a baby, for example, you could reschedule your visit.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider testing if you:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are over age 65;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have health conditions like diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease, HIV, or obesity;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will have contact with someone at risk of severe illness, such as a baby, older adult, or immunocompromised person;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take immunosuppressant medications (medications that weaken the immune response);&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work in a daycare or nursing home.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-it-s-an-emergency\">When It\u2019s an Emergency\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what virus you have, some symptoms always require immediate medical treatment. Get emergency care if you or your loved one has:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bluish lips or fingernails&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chest pain&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dizziness&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sudden confusion&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trouble breathing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wheezing&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stop-illness-before-it-starts\">Stop Illness Before It Starts\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to any illness, prevention is critical. You can help reduce your risk of getting sick if you:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoid being around people who are currently sick;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get at least seven hours of quality sleep each night;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wash your hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But even with the most diligent handwashing, you can still be exposed to viruses. Help protect yourself by getting vaccinated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>COVID-19:<\/strong> Vaccines protect against severe COVID-19 complications and lower your chances of getting long COVID. Vaccines are available for everyone six months and older, so talk with your provider to make sure you\u2019re up to date.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flu:<\/strong> The flu vaccine reduces the risk of serious illnesses and hospitalizations and may reduce the length of symptoms. Everyone six months and older should get an updated flu shot yearly to protect against current flu viruses.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RSV:<\/strong> The RSV vaccine is available to anyone who is pregnant or at least 60 years of age. Getting the vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your newborn from RSV. Talk with your provider about whether this vaccine could benefit you.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone gets sick sometimes. No matter what level of care you need, Inova is here for you. Inova offers many convenient <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inova.org\/locations\/inova-primary-care\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">primary care locations<\/a> across Northern Virginia and beyond. For urgent needs, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inova.org\/locations\/inova-gohealth-urgent-care\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Go-Health Urgent Care<\/a> provides same-day, walk-in and virtual care. Inova\u2019s expert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inova.org\/our-services\/inova-emergency-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Emergency Care<\/a> team can handle any life-threatening emergency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Feature image, stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>For more expert advice, <a href=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subscribe<\/a> to Northern Virginia Magazine&#8217;s Wellness newsletter.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An Inova internal medicine doctor outlines what symptoms to expect from each. ","protected":false},"author":1005478,"featured_media":503645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54660],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-503644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? Which Is It?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You can tell a cold from the flu, RSV, or COVID-19, if you know the symptoms. An Inova doctor outlines them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You can tell a cold from the flu, RSV, or COVID-19, if you know the symptoms. An Inova doctor outlines them.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Northern Virginia Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-08T15:48:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-08T15:52:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Inova Health System Contributor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@NorthernVaMag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@NorthernVaMag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Inova Health System Contributor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Inova Health System Contributor\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/db9179d29a4b595bdf1b794439d9f4a7\"},\"headline\":\"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-08T15:48:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-08T15:52:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\"},\"wordCount\":1235,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Wellness\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\",\"name\":\"Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? Which Is It?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-01-08T15:48:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-08T15:52:06+00:00\",\"description\":\"You can tell a cold from the flu, RSV, or COVID-19, if you know the symptoms. An Inova doctor outlines them.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Paolese\/stock.adobe.com\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/\",\"name\":\"Northern Virginia Magazine\",\"description\":\"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Northern Virginia Magazine\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg\",\"width\":1199,\"height\":385,\"caption\":\"Northern Virginia Magazine\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/NorthernVaMag\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/northernvirginiamag\/\"],\"description\":\"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.\",\"foundingDate\":\"2006-01-01\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/db9179d29a4b595bdf1b794439d9f4a7\",\"name\":\"Inova Health System Contributor\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/author\/inova\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? Which Is It?","description":"You can tell a cold from the flu, RSV, or COVID-19, if you know the symptoms. An Inova doctor outlines them.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference","og_description":"You can tell a cold from the flu, RSV, or COVID-19, if you know the symptoms. An Inova doctor outlines them.","og_url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","og_site_name":"Northern Virginia Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/","article_published_time":"2024-01-08T15:48:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-01-08T15:52:06+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Inova Health System Contributor","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@NorthernVaMag","twitter_site":"@NorthernVaMag","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Inova Health System Contributor","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/"},"author":{"name":"Inova Health System Contributor","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/db9179d29a4b595bdf1b794439d9f4a7"},"headline":"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference","datePublished":"2024-01-08T15:48:41+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-08T15:52:06+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/"},"wordCount":1235,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg","articleSection":["Wellness"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2024","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","name":"Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? Which Is It?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg","datePublished":"2024-01-08T15:48:41+00:00","dateModified":"2024-01-08T15:52:06+00:00","description":"You can tell a cold from the flu, RSV, or COVID-19, if you know the symptoms. An Inova doctor outlines them.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/flu.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"Paolese\/stock.adobe.com"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/health\/medical-features\/2024\/01\/08\/is-it-a-cold-flu-rsv-or-covid-19-how-to-tell-the-difference\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Is It a Cold, Flu, RSV, or COVID-19? How to Tell the Difference"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/","name":"Northern Virginia Magazine","description":"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#organization","name":"Northern Virginia Magazine","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/NVMlogo.jpg","width":1199,"height":385,"caption":"Northern Virginia Magazine"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthernVirginiaMag\/","https:\/\/x.com\/NorthernVaMag","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/northernvirginiamag\/"],"description":"Discover Northern Virginia&#039;s best places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. Get the latest on restaurants and fun things to do.","foundingDate":"2006-01-01"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/#\/schema\/person\/db9179d29a4b595bdf1b794439d9f4a7","name":"Inova Health System Contributor","url":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/author\/inova\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1005478"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=503644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/503645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=503644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=503644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northernvirginiamag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=503644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}