Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are common respiratory illnesses that circulate widely, especially during cooler months. Both can cause mild, cold-like symptoms or severe conditions requiring hospitalization. Understanding their distinct characteristics, including symptoms, transmission, and impact on different populations, helps individuals navigate respiratory illness seasons.
Symptoms and Transmission
RSV typically presents with symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, sneezing, and fever. Some individuals may also experience wheezing and a decreased appetite. In more severe instances, RSV can lead to inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, known as bronchiolitis, or pneumonia.
COVID-19 symptoms often include fever, cough, and fatigue, alongside potential shortness of breath, sore throat, or congestion. Headaches, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues like nausea or diarrhea can also occur.
Both viruses spread primarily through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. RSV can also be transmitted through direct contact, such as kissing. Both can also be acquired by touching contaminated surfaces before touching the face. The significant overlap in symptoms, including fever, cough, and runny nose, often makes it difficult to distinguish between RSV and COVID-19 without diagnostic testing.
Who is Most at Risk
RSV poses a heightened risk to specific populations. Infants, particularly those born prematurely or under six months of age, are especially vulnerable to severe illness from RSV. Young children under two years old with existing heart conditions or chronic lung issues also face increased susceptibility. Individuals with compromised immune systems, due to conditions like cancer or its treatments, are another group at higher risk.
Older adults, especially those aged 65 and above, and individuals with pre-existing heart or lung diseases, are also prone to severe RSV infections. Neuromuscular disorders that affect breathing or mucus clearance can further elevate an individual’s risk. Environmental factors, such as living in crowded conditions or having siblings who attend daycare or school, can increase an infant’s exposure and subsequent risk.
For COVID-19, older adults represent a population with significantly elevated risk, with the likelihood of severe outcomes increasing with age. Individuals with chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung diseases, obesity, and kidney or liver disease, are more likely to experience severe COVID-19. Those with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients or organ transplant recipients, also face a greater risk of serious illness. Babies younger than six months can also experience severe COVID-19, though severe outcomes are more frequently observed in older adults.