Feeling ill lately? Here’s how to tell what might be making you sick in the Central Valley

You’re experiencing a runny nose, cough, congestion, and general fatigue; could it be COVID-19? Maybe it’s the flu? Or your allergies acting up again?

Figuring out the illness one may have isn’t simple to self-diagnose. While most cold and flu infections will clear up on their own, it is important to monitor your symptoms and seek medical care when nothing seems to be improving. This guide, based on information from the California Department of Health and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may help you to figure out what ails you and how best to manage your symptoms.

Respiratory viruses

COVID-19, influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are all considered respiratory viruses according to the California Department of Public Health. These illnesses can be hard to distinguish without a doctor’s diagnosis because the symptoms are similar.

COVID-19

Healthy Central Valley Together Wastewater data show a rise in COVID-19 cases starting at the end of June and rising steadily since.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose and congestion, fatigue, and muscle and body aches. Similar to common cold and RSV symptoms, COVID-19 also can be distinguished by a loss of taste and smell, nausea, and diarrhea. To be sure, COVID-19 test kits are readily available.

Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure and an infected individual can be contagious one to two days before symptoms begin and eight to 10 days after symptoms appear, according to the CDC. While many people can just rest and recover, young and elderly people and those with compromised immune systems may need additional treatment.

Oral antivirals including Paxlovid and Lageviro can help those with advanced cases and, according to a recent study from Yale, Paxlovid may be effective in preventing long COVID. The CDC recommends isolating for five days from when symptoms began or five days from a positive test result.

Respiratory syncytial virus

Though most common from October through March, RSV can occur at any time. It is contagious through contact and germs spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include fever, cough and runny nose much like the common cold, but wheezing and a barking cough in younger individuals can distinguish it from other infections.

Young children are especially vulnerable, as RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization of infants. People 65 or older or those with weakened immune systems can be at risk of more advanced complications. Prevention is key and the CDC recommends immunization for pregnant women or new mothers.

RSV vaccines can be administered at the same time as COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Similar to COVID-19, infected individuals can be contagious one to two days before symptoms occur and three to eight days after symptoms start. Staying home and getting rest is recommended, and symptoms can be managed using over-the-counter flu and cold medicines.

Influenza

Most commonly spreading and at its peak October through May, influenza infection often spreads year round. Similar in symptoms to a cold and COVID-19, flu is characterized by a runny nose, congestion, fever, sore throat and fatigue.

Some ways to distinguish this infection from a cold are body aches, pain and headaches, which occur less in cold infections. Also, the onset of flu symptoms typically is sudden, while cold symptoms develop more gradually.

Influenza is highly contagious, spread through close contact and still accounts for hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths per year.

Vaccines are readily available and the California Department of Public Health advises that everyone 6 months of age or older receive yearly flu shots.

The flu can usually be managed at home with rest and over-the-counter medications, but more severe cases may require prescription antiviral medicines.

People with the flu can be contagious one day before symptoms appear and five to seven days after developing symptoms, with the most contagious period being the first three days of illness.

Common cold

Like most of the respiratory viruses listed, symptoms of the common cold include runny nose, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, cough, sneezing and a low-grade fever.

The cold is spread through close contact and can appear one to three days after exposure. Symptoms can last anywhere from seven to 10 days and longer in some cases for people who smoke.

At-home rest and over-the-counter flu and cold medicines usually are enough to tackle the infection, but more severe cases may require a doctor visit.

Other illnesses

Valley fever

Also known as coccidioidomycosis or cocci, valley fever is a disease caused by a fungus present in dirt and soil. In the Central Valley, the CDPH reports that cases have been on the rise, growing from fewer than 1,000 cases in 2000 to more than 9,000 in 2019. According to Cal Matters, there have been 63% more infections this year than the same period last year, with 5,300 new cases diagnosed over the last six months.

Valley fever presents with many of the same symptoms as the flu or COVID-19, including cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue and fever. Unlike the respiratory viruses, Valley Fever can take weeks to manifest. Dry and windy conditions stir up the soil making it easier to breathe in and people working outside can be especially vulnerable.

Valley fever is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person. In healthy individuals, it likely will resolve itself, but people with compromised immune systems or lung issues may require further treatment. For more difficult cases, antifungal medications are prescribed.

Sinus infections

Sinus infections can develop on their own or after a bout of a respiratory infection and occur when fluid builds up in the sinuses. This inflammation allows germs to take hold and grow.

Like flu and COVID-19, sinus infections are characterized by a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and cough. With sinus infections, the discomfort usually is limited to the head, also causing facial pain pressure and postnasal drip.

Most cases will resolve on their own and can be managed with over-the-counter medications, but more severe infections may require antibiotics.

Seasonal allergies

With symptoms ranging from a runny and stuffy nose to headaches, tiredness, chest congestion and cough, allergies can be distinguished from infection in several ways, including lack of fever and body aches and pains.

Allergies can also cause itchy and watery eyes, skin rashes and even wheezing for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Though very uncomfortable and seemingly unyielding at onset, allergies can be managed by over-the-counter allergy medications in pill and nasal spray options and even an allergy shot administered by a doctor. Peaking during allergy season when pollen levels are at their highest, allergies can occur at any time.