A youngster having a runny, stuffy nose or cough when they get home from school in November is nothing new. However, for parents, the stakes feel particularly high at the moment: Just a cold, then? a flu? Or are these symptoms typical of COVID or RSV? Why it's important: As flu, respiratory viruses, and coronavirus infections are rising across the country, it can be challenging for parents to differentiate between the illnesses because some of the symptoms are similar.

1. What parents should know about looming “tripledemic” and their kids' health
A youngster having a runny, stuffy nose or cough when they get home from school in
November is nothing new. However, for parents, the stakes feel particularly high at the
moment: Just a cold, then? a flu? Or are these symptoms typical of COVID or RSV?
Why it's important: As flu, respiratory viruses, and coronavirus infections are rising across
the country, it can be challenging for parents to differentiate between the illnesses because
some of the symptoms are similar.
According to Adriel Bettelheim of Axios, many Americans may be too COVID-tired to worry
about the possibility of a "tripledemic."
Zooming out The nationwide lack of healthcare professionals, which continues to
increase hospital workloads, may also have an influence on care.
The signs of RSV, the flu, and COVID-19 in children are described here, along with some
important information for parents.
Kids' RSV symptoms
● According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV is very contagious
and a common illness in children, with the majority of children having experienced an
infection by the time they turn two.
● According to the CDC, the symptoms include a runny nose, loss of appetite, coughing,
sneezing, fever, and wheezing.
● The CDC advises parents to call their healthcare provider if their kid "is having difficulty
breathing, not drinking enough fluids, or experiencing worsening symptoms" even though
most RSV infections go away in a week or two.
● RSV symptoms often appear 4 to 6 days after contracting the infection and normally
develop gradually.
kids' flu symptoms
● According to Health Partners, the flu's primary difference from RSV is that its symptoms
frequently appear unexpectedly.
According to the CDC, flu symptoms can include chills, body pains, headaches, sore throats,
runny or stuffy noses, fever, and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea.

2. According to HealthyChildren.org, flu symptoms usually appear 1 to 4 days after being
exposed to a sick individual.
The CDC cautions that "even healthy children can get quite sick with the virus."
According to the CDC, parents should take their kids to the ER if they exhibit any of the
following symptoms: rapid or labored breathing, pale lips or face, ribs pulling in with each
breath, and chest pain.
Children's COVID-19 symptoms
According to the CDC, fever and cough are the most typical COVID-19 symptoms in
children, but they can also have sore throats, headaches, lethargy, or gastrointestinal
symptoms.
Be wise: Updating your COVID and flu shots is one of the best ways to safeguard your
family.
Go deeper… Threat of "tripledemic" looms with RSV, COVID and flu