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ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
What's the difference between the cold, flu and RSV?
When we're talking about winter illnesses, people use general terms like cold and the flu as if they're the same thing. But while they both tend to make us feel pretty rubbish, there are some key differences between them. At the same time, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also circulating in the community, causing similar symptoms. Here are the differences between the common cold, the flu and RSV. It's a generic term for an infection that generally affects a person's nose and throat. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause a common cold, most of them being either a type of rhinovirus or coronavirus, Australia's public health information service, Healthdirect, says. "The symptoms of a cold are usually mild," the service's website says. "In most cases, you can treat the symptoms of a mild cold yourself. "Most people will get better by themselves within seven to 10 days without any treatment." The flu is a nickname for influenza. While you may hear people use cold and flu interchangeably, they're actually different diseases. And the flu can be much worse than a cold, Health Direct says. People at risk of developing a severe illness include young children, people over 65 years old and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Pregnancy is also a risk factor for a serious bout of the flu. In serious cases, the flu can lead to pneumonia, breathing difficulties and death. "[But] most people will get better by themselves within seven to 10 days and without any treatment," Healthdirect's website says. RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. While it can affect people of all ages, it's most serious for infants, young children and older adults with chronic health conditions, Health Direct says. It can lead to serious respiratory illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia. "There is no specific treatment for RSV, but having lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids will help you recover," Healthdirect's website says. "Most people recover from RSV in about 10 days." They might sound the same, but there are specific differences between the three. Here's how Health Direct breaks it down: However, Healthdirect says that sometimes symptoms can differ and overlap. Healthdirect has an online service called Symptom Checker that helps you work out if you should see a doctor or treat yourself at home. It asks you a few questions about your symptoms and gives you general advice. It can also help you find a healthcare provider. But, as a guide, Healthdirect has this advice on its flu website: See your doctor if you: While many people won't need specific medical treatment for mild respiratory illnesses, some cases can become quite serious. Healthdirect says people should call triple-0 if someone is having severe difficulty breathing or turning blue. Here are some more warnings on the service's website: "If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever above 38°Celsius, take them to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately, or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance." "If your child is having difficulty breathing, is turning blue, is grunting or is lethargic, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance." The service also has these specific warnings about the common cold on its website: See your doctor urgently if you (or your child) have had cold or flu-like symptoms and you: The COVID-19 pandemic had many of us used to the idea that we needed to test ourselves to understand what was causing our illness. We asked Gemma Saravanos, a registered nurse and infectious diseases epidemiologist from the University of Sydney, if there was much point in that now. "Knowing the specific pathogen causing your respiratory illness may not provide a benefit [for treatment], particularly if you have a mild illness and no risk factors for severe disease," Dr Saravanos said. However, there are a lot of benefits to testing. "Home testing kits, or testing in healthcare services such as general practice, can guide our decision-making around infection prevention practices," Dr Saravanos says. "Testing is also important for those who may be eligible for influenza or COVID-19 antiviral medication. "Lastly, testing also serves a public health function. It helps us to understand what pathogens are circulating in the community and this can inform public health advice and research, such as vaccine effectiveness studies." "There are no clear guidelines for respiratory testing in the community," Dr Saravanos says. And it's not always easy — or cheap — to get tested. "Testing may not always be available depending on access and affordability of home testing kits, and laboratory services," Dr Saravanos says. "Without testing, it is very difficult to know what pathogen is causing a respiratory infection, so it's important to be guided by symptoms and modify our behaviours accordingly to avoid spreading infection. "What feels like a mild cold for you may result in a severe illness for another person." So knowing what you have might help you make better choices about where you go and what you do when you're sick. "It's good to know because, for example, I've got parents in their 90s and if I've got a mild cold I might go and see them with a mask," Patrick Reading, director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, said. "But if I've got influenza, that could be really life-threatening to them." "Most respiratory infections can be safely managed at home with rest, hydration and over-the-counter analgesics (such as paracetamol)," Dr Saravanos says. "We do have antivirals to treat COVID-19 and influenza and these are recommended for older adults and those with certain risk factors." We asked Dr Saravanos what sorts of foods people should eat if they wanted to speed up their recovery. But there doesn't appear to be a magic formula. "There is little evidence that foods or supplements will speed up recovery," she says. "Be guided by your symptoms," Dr Saravanos says. "If you are feeling unwell or have active symptoms, it is best practice to stay home, especially in the first few days of illness. "This supports recovery and also reduces the risk of passing the infection on to others." "This depends on a range of factors, including severity of illness and individual characteristics such as immune function and fitness," Dr Saravanos says. "A week may be sufficient for some people, however others will need more time for recovery."
West Australian
18-07-2025
- Health
- West Australian
RSV cases surpass 2024 numbers as flu notifications exceed 13,000 despite strong immunisation uptake
A winter surge in respiratory syncytial virus has seen the number of cases surpass those at the same time last year despite strong immunisation uptake. Latest figures reveal 4124 cases have been reported to the Department of Health to date, up from 3299 this time last year. 'RSV notifications substantially increased in the past week in keeping with an upward trend,' the department said. Cases are on the rise in the Goldfields, Midwest and Pilbara regions in particular. There were another 129 hospital admissions, with an increase in child admissions in particular, bringing the yearly total so far to 881. It's fewer than the number of admissions last year, in large part thanks to WA's free RSV immunisation program for infants. Strong uptake saw more than 500 families avoid hospital stays last winter. More than 2000 of the current cases of the highly infectious virus are in children under five, despite more than 16,500 infants and pregnant women being immunised against the virus to date. RSV is a common but highly contagious virus that infects the airway and lungs. It is easily spread by coughing and sneezing. More than half of all babies will be infected with the virus before their first birthday, and in WA, one in every 30 babies are admitted to hospital with RSV each year. Symptoms include a runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing, and a reduced appetite. It is usually mild but can cause other more serious illnesses like pneumonia and bronchiolitis. It can also increase the risk of longer-term breathing problems such as childhood asthma. The influx of RSV comes amid a horror flu season with cases now exceeding 13,000 and set to pass the 2024 yearly total in the coming weeks. Earlier this month, the Department of Health sent an urgent reminder to medical staff to ensure they're giving patients the right RSV immunisation after receiving 13 reports of the incorrect jab being given to West Australians between February and June. No adverse events were reported. Healthdirect 1800 022 222
Perth Now
18-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
RSV cases surge in WA despite high vaccine uptake
A winter surge in respiratory syncytial virus has seen the number of cases surpass those at the same time last year despite strong immunisation uptake. Latest figures reveal 4124 cases have been reported to the Department of Health to date, up from 3299 this time last year. 'RSV notifications substantially increased in the past week in keeping with an upward trend,' the department said. Cases are on the rise in the Goldfields, Midwest and Pilbara regions in particular. There were another 129 hospital admissions, with an increase in child admissions in particular, bringing the yearly total so far to 881. It's fewer than the number of admissions last year, in large part thanks to WA's free RSV immunisation program for infants. Strong uptake saw more than 500 families avoid hospital stays last winter. More than 2000 of the current cases of the highly infectious virus are in children under five, despite more than 16,500 infants and pregnant women being immunised against the virus to date. RSV is a common but highly contagious virus that infects the airway and lungs. It is easily spread by coughing and sneezing. More than half of all babies will be infected with the virus before their first birthday, and in WA, one in every 30 babies are admitted to hospital with RSV each year. Symptoms include a runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing, and a reduced appetite. It is usually mild but can cause other more serious illnesses like pneumonia and bronchiolitis. It can also increase the risk of longer-term breathing problems such as childhood asthma. The influx of RSV comes amid a horror flu season with cases now exceeding 13,000 and set to pass the 2024 yearly total in the coming weeks. Earlier this month, the Department of Health sent an urgent reminder to medical staff to ensure they're giving patients the right RSV immunisation after receiving 13 reports of the incorrect jab being given to West Australians between February and June. No adverse events were reported. Healthdirect 1800 022 222
ABC News
26-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
How to limit the spread of COVID, cold and flu at home in winter
Winter can be a contagious time of year for everything from COVID-19 to the common cold. Once someone in your household feels the first ominous tickle at the back of their throat, everyone else can feel doomed to follow. "It's always a challenge within households because we know households are the place where viruses like respiratory viruses spread really efficiently," says Catherine Bennett, Deakin University's chair of epidemiology. But there are ways to limit the risk of illnesses spreading from one family member or housemate to another, she says. Professor Bennett says if someone within your household becomes sick, it is possible you have already been exposed before they had any symptoms. However, if the sick person can isolate from the rest of household it's still worth it, she says. Ideally this would look like using a separate bedroom and bathroom to others. She says this degree of isolation is not possible or realistic for many households. Isolation can also look like someone sleeping on the couch to "reduce their risk of inhaling the virus" from their unwell partner overnight, she says. Medical director for government-funded online public health information service Healthdirect Darran Foo says if possible, the symptomatic person should remain isolated from the rest of the household until they no longer have active symptoms. For example, "no more ongoing fevers, no more coughing up lots of phlegm". If someone in the household is symptomatic, and isolating completely is not possible, Professor Bennett says a mask can help protect the rest of the household. "Wearing a mask if you're unwell can reduce your risk of passing it on to other people." Dr Foo also advises wearing a mask if it's possible and practical, particularly if you live in a smaller home like an apartment. Dr Foo recommends throwing used tissues away immediately and avoiding sharing cups, plates and cutlery in the household when someone is unwell, whether from a cold or COVID-19. "The biggest thing really is to maintain good hygiene, especially good hand hygiene," Dr Foo says. "Lots of hand washing and using sanitisers as much as possible." Professor Benett also says you should "wash your own hands more often in between touching things, even around the home" when you or someone else is sick. She recommends wiping down commonly used surfaces — such as the bathroom — more often. Any surfaces where someone has coughed may have droplets over them, she says. Professor Bennett says "bugs do so well [in winter because] we can't air our houses out". Poor ventilation will make it easier for viruses to spread, but she says increasing air turnover and introducing outdoor air can help. Open doors and windows when you can "so it's not the same air pushing right through the household that's around the person who's unwell." Dr Foo also says the more ventilation you can get at home the better, while of course avoiding hypothermia. Dr Foo says "the general advice all remains the same" if someone in the household is potentially more vulnerable. However, he says people more at risk of becoming seriously unwell may want to consult their regular healthcare professional who knows their medical history. "It really depends on that person's risk, their comorbidities and what ongoing conditions they have — and also to identify whether it's appropriate to use antiviral medication at that point in time." Professor Bennett says being diligent with mask wearing, hand washing and sanitising surfaces is particularly worth doing if someone in the house is vulnerable. Professor Bennett says being up to date with COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations will offer another layer of protection. "If you can't avoid infection in the household — and that's the hardest place to do it — then actually having some protection from severe illness is really important in influenza." In larger shared households there are more people to bring viruses home and that extra protection from vaccination is even more important, "particularly from severe illness in the vulnerable people in our households", Professor Bennett says. Dr Foo also encourages people to stay up to date with their vaccinations, "especially their annual flu vaccination and their COVID booster shots". This is general information only. For personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner.
ABC News
23-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
What you need to know about dietary fibre and digestion
People share a lot of their lives on social media. This can even include digestion details, with content about "staying regular", bloating and fibre far from off limits on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Food and nutrition scientist Emma Beckett, based in Newcastle/Awabakal, says she is glad these conversations are bringing fibre into focus. "I feel like lately everything's about protein and prioritising protein, and we've kind of forgotten about everything else, including fibre," she says. "Talking about digestive health — particularly pooping — was very taboo for a long time." Dr Beckett says fibre falls into two major categories, soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. She says soluble fibre "forms a gel-like substance when it's mixed with water". This gel-like consistency "helps us to feel fuller for longer" and some soluble fibres can also be classified as prebiotics, which help feed beneficial gut bacteria. According to Australia's public health website Healthdirect, soluble fibre is found in oats and barley, fruit and vegetables. It's also found in legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and beans. You may have heard insoluble fibre described as roughage. "I remember at school being told that fibre is like the gut's toothbrush," Dr Beckett says. Insoluble fibre is found in high-fibre and wholegrain breads and cereals, the outer skins of fruits and vegetables and nuts and seeds. The Australian dietary guidelines recommend 30 grams of fibre a day for adult men and 25 grams for women. Dr Beckett says while fibre falls into two main categories (and even more subcategories), dietary recommendations are based on general fibre intake. Considering daily recommendations and how often we eat, she says meals with 10 grams of fibre or more are a "fibre superstar", and 6 to 10 grams is a "good source". However, Dr Beckett says prioritising ingredients with fibre is more practical than "obsessing over the grams". "If you're having vegetables in your lunch and your dinner, if you're eating as many legumes as possible, if you're eating as many whole grains as possible, then you don't even need to worry about the number." Vincent Ho is a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Western Sydney University, and says patients are often confused about which foods are high in fibre. Dr Ho says a supplement is not enough to get your recommended daily intake, with a tablespoon of psyllium husk only containing about 2 grams of fibre. Megan Rebuli is a research dietician in health and biosecurity at the CSIRO in Adelaide, on the traditional country of the Kaurna people. If you're looking to get more fibre at mealtimes you can make some simple swaps, she says. "For example, swapping white bread for wholegrain bread [or] swapping white pasta for wholegrain pasta." You can also add legumes to salads and curries, she says. Dr Beckett says "generally speaking, Australians don't eat enough legumes" and they're a "stand-out" when it comes to high-fibre foods. Dr Beckett says these recipes contain more than 10 grams of protein per serve. Dr Beckett says "one of the immediate consequences of not having enough fibre in your diet is constipation." This could lead to extreme discomfort and even haemorrhoids from straining, she says. What's considered normal frequency for a bowel movement varies person to person and "it could be anywhere from three times a day to three times a week". Dr Ho says constipation can also lead to anal fissures (small tears around the area) "exacerbated by constipation and straining". He says eating fibre can help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer (also known as bowel cancer). If you're not getting enough, "your cholesterol levels and your blood sugar levels can be elevated", as well as your cancer risk. Ms Rebuli says being physically active and consuming dietary fibre has been shown to decrease your risk, but there are a range of lifestyle and genetic factors that may also play a part. This article contains general information only. You should consider obtaining independent professional advice in relation to your particular circumstances.
