Respiratory illnesses can come in some different forms, but many share the same symptoms.

Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber tells Raccoon Valley Radio that for the most part, a lot of respiratory illnesses start with some of the same symptoms. He says that coughing, headaches and especially fevers are all good indicators of some sort of illness. Arber adds that even though these symptoms are shared by multiple illnesses, they can present themselves in different ways based on the illness.

Arber mentions that the flu presents a deeper, chesty cough that people are more accustomed to hearing, along with high grade fevers of over 100.4 degrees, and headaches. He says that RSV presents differently in adults than children. In children, coughing sounds similar to croup, while in adults it sounds more like a normal cough. Headaches are also prevalent in RSV, and fevers are usually low-grade, meaning they’re between 99 and 100.4 degrees.

Arber advises that those who think they may have a flu or RSV should see their primary care physician.