What are the main respiratory viruses and how to tell them apart?

10
Jan

We are in the season of respiratory infections, as we told you in this article, and also the time to keep calm. Because an adult suffers from two to four colds a year; children, six to eight.

These mild infections of the upper respiratory tract ( mainly affecting the nose and throat), which take the form of mucus, nose and throat), which present themselves in the form of snot, sneezing and nasal congestion, are banal and generally low-risk, but very annoying, sneezing and nasal congestion, are banal and generally low-risk, but very annoying. But there are many different types of viral strains, more than 200, that can affect us, which share similar symptoms but which, nevertheless, it is important to differentiate.

Main families of respiratory viruses

Although there is a lot of variety, the reality is that only a few of them are able to affect us and reach us. Here is a list of the main families of viruses responsible for respiratory infections:

  1. Influenza Virus (Gripe )
    • Family: Orthomyxoviridae
    • Maintypes:
      • Influenza A: includes subtypes such as H1N1 and H3N2.
      • Influenza B: less variable, but also responsible for epidemics.
      • Influenza C: causes milder infections and is less common.
      • Influenza D: mainly affects livestock and not humans.
    • Source: PAHO (OMS)
  2. Coronavirus
    • Family: Coronaviridae
    • Maintypes:
      • SARS-CoV-2: cause of COVID-19.
      • Other human coronaviruses: HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1 (associated with the common cold ).
      • SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV: responsible for severe epidemics such as SARS and MERS.
    • Source: MSDManuals
  3. Virus Respiratorio Sincitial (VRS)
    • Family: Pneumoviridae
    • Maintypes: Subgroups A and B.
    • Additionalinformation: RSV is a common cause of respiratory infections in young children and can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia. children and can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
  4. Adenovirus
    • Family: Adenoviridae
    • Serotypes: more than 50, some associated with respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to pneumonia.
    • Source: MSDManuals
  5. Rinovirus
    • Family: Picornaviridae
    • Serotypes: more than 100, being the main cause of the common cold.
    • Additional information: rhinoviruses are highly contagious and predominantly in mild respiratory infections.
    • Source: PAHO (OMS)
  6. Parainfluenza Virus
    • Family: Paramyxoviridae
    • Maintypes: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
    • Additionalinformation: can cause anything from common colds to laryngotracheobronchitis (croup) and pneumonia, especially in children.
    • Source: MSDManuals
  7. Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)
    • Family: Pneumoviridae
    • Additionalinformation: similar to RSV, mainly affects children, the elderly and immunocompromised people, causing respiratory infections of varying severity.
  8. Enterovirus
    • Family: Picornaviridae
    • Otherinformation: Some, such as Enterovirus D68, can cause severe respiratory infections, especially in children.
    • Source: La Razón
  9. HumanBocavirus
    • Family: Parvoviridae
    • Additionalinformation: Discovered in 2005, it can cause respiratory infections in children, often associated with other viruses.
    • Source: Annals of Paediatrics
  10. Herpesvirus Family Viruses
    • Family: Herpesviridae
    • Additionalinformation: although less common in respiratory infections, viruses such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus ( EBV) can affect the respiratory system, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
    • Source: MSDManuals

How to tell them apart

However, the symptoms of many of these viruses are very different from each other. How can you tell them apart? Here are some simple guidelines to guide you:

Flu: if you have the flu, you will most likely feel a high fever from the start, muscleaches, dry cough, extreme fatigue and sore throat.

COVID-19: although it is well known to all, its symptoms vary according to the strain, but include fever, cough, nasal congestion, loss of taste or smell and, in some cases, difficulty breathing.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): in adults, usually looks like a mild cold; in children and the over 65s, it can cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

Commoncold (rhinovirus): the most typical symptom is nasal congestion, sore throat, sneezing, low (or absent) fever and mild cough, sneezing, low (or absent) fever and mild cough.

Distinguishing between these infections can be complicated, as symptoms overlap. However, depending on how it manifests or develops, in some cases, we can find out to which virus group the infection belongs:

  • Suddenonset with high fever and muscle pain: probable influenza.
  • Fever with persistent cough and shortness of breath: could be COVID-19 or RSV, especially in vulnerable population.
  • Mildsymptoms without fever: usually a common cold.

In any case, we always recommend, as a first step, diagnostic tests such as antigen tests or PCR to rule out COVID-19 or influenza, ( antigen tests can be found in pharmacies).

To avoid overcrowding in the emergency department, it is important to differentiate between mild and moderate or severe symptoms. If the symptoms do not prevent us from going about our normal lives, the best thing to do is to rest, maintain a good hydration routine and take over-the-counter medicines to relieve discomfort, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

If the fever is high or persistent, if you experience shortness of breath and symptoms worsen, it is advisable to see a doctor. Especially if young children, the elderly or people with chronic diseases are affected.