As temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors, upper respiratory viruses begin their annual circulation through communities, including, unfortunately, Charlotte. Understanding how symptoms differ for the flu vs. COVID and other respiratory illnesses has become increasingly important as these viruses affect millions of Americans each year, causing missed work days, disrupted routines, and, in severe cases, serious health complications. Yet many people struggle to distinguish between different respiratory viruses and don’t know when symptoms warrant medical attention or how long typical symptoms last.
Dr. Mira Varela, a primary care physician at Tryon Medical Partners’ Pineville location, sees a steady stream of patients with respiratory symptoms throughout fall and winter. Her expertise in managing everything from mild colds to severe flu cases provides valuable insights into preventing illness and treating upper respiratory infections effectively.
When is flu season 2025?
Understanding what these viruses are and when they circulate helps you prepare and protect yourself for flu season 2025.
“There are tons of viruses out there. It could be a coronavirus or influenza. They’re ubiquitous and we’re exposed to hundreds if not thousands of them in our lives,” explains Dr. Varela.
Upper respiratory viruses affect your nose, throat, sinuses, and airways. While you encounter these viruses year-round, certain patterns emerge seasonally.
“Upper respiratory virus season generally starts around mid-September, and flu season specifically will begin more December and January. By late February and early March, things will taper off.”
The peak of flu season typically occurs mid-winter when cold weather keeps people indoors in close quarters, creating ideal conditions for viral transmission.
What are the common symptoms, and how can you tell whether it’s flu vs. COVID?
Recognizing respiratory virus symptoms early allows you to take appropriate action and avoid spreading illness to others. Distinguishing between flu and COVID can be challenging since they share many symptoms.
Common symptoms of upper respiratory infections include:
- Nasal symptoms. A runny nose, congestion, and sneezing are the hallmark signs of viral infection.
- Throat discomfort. This often feels like a scratchy or sore throat, common in the early stages of a viral infection.
- Cough. It may start as a dry cough initially, then might produce mucus as the infection progresses.
- Fever. An elevated temperature often accompanies a virus and indicates your immune system is fighting an infection.
- Fatigue. It’s common to feel unusually tired or run-down with respiratory viruses.
- Shortness of breath. Especially in more severe cases, you may have difficulty breathing.
- Muscle aches. Common in both the flu and other viral illnesses.
When comparing the flu vs. COVID, both produce similar symptoms, though influenza tends to cause more severe illness with higher fevers, body aches, and more pronounced fatigue. COVID-19 may also include loss of taste or smell.
Many people get a post-viral cough, or bronchitis, during or after viral illnesses. This can be bothersome and commonly lasts for 6-8 weeks. However, this is only very rarely caused by bacterial infections and usually does not require antibiotics. Avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics is extremely important to minimize the development of antibiotic resistance and support your gut microbiome.
How is flu season 2025 shaping up?
While it’s early in the season, understanding what to expect for flu season 2025 helps you prepare with proper influenza precautions.
“I worry about flu season generally because it drives hospitalizations,” says Dr. Varela. “COVID is pretty common now, and people who have other chronic diseases are going to be at risk, but influenza is the most worrisome to me.”
Regarding severity predictions for flu season 2025, Dr. Varela notes: “Until proven otherwise, I would consider it an average year. We don’t know yet how severe the strains are.”
The unpredictability stems from the nature of influenza viruses themselves. “We try our best to get the most prevalent strains into the vaccine, but it’s not a perfect science. Public health monitoring groups and vaccine developers work hard to make sure we’re covered for the most likely strains, but there’s always a risk that the flu shot this year doesn’t quite match up with the strains people become infected with,” she explains.
Regardless of predictions, taking influenza precautions seriously remains essential, particularly for vulnerable populations including older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions.
What are the best influenza precautions?
Prevention strategies significantly reduce your risk of contracting and spreading respiratory illnesses. Taking proper influenza precautions now can help you avoid illness during flu season.
Dr. Varela’s top recommendation is straightforward: “Get your flu shot. Annual influenza vaccination remains the single most effective tool for preventing severe flu illness.”
Beyond vaccination, Dr. Varela emphasizes several key influenza precautions:
- Hand hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public spaces.
- Stay home when sick. Continuing your normal routine while ill spreads viruses to others. Rest at home until symptoms improve.
- Wear a mask if symptomatic. This simple measure protects those around you.
- Manage chronic conditions. Make sure other chronic conditions are well managed – specifically chronic lung diseases, asthma, COPD, diabetes, and hypertension – so if you do get sick, you’re at a healthier baseline.
- Maintain overall health. Staying active, eating healthy, and prioritizing sleep will help protect your immune system. These practices strengthen your body’s natural defenses.
How should you practice influenza self-care at home?
Most upper respiratory infections resolve with simple influenza self-care and don’t require medical intervention. Understanding how long influenza and other upper respiratory infections typically last and what to expect helps you manage symptoms effectively at home.
For typical cold and flu symptoms, Dr. Varela recommends straightforward influenza self-care: “Stay at home. Drink warm tea, eat chicken soup, and rest as much as possible.”
Rest remains your most powerful tool when fighting a respiratory virus. Your body needs energy to mount an effective immune response, so prioritize sleep and reduce physical activity during illness.
Additional influenza self-care measures include:
- Staying well-hydrated with water, herbal tea, and broth-based soups
- Using a humidifier to ease congestion and soothe irritated airways
- Taking over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and body aches, dextromethorphan cough syrup for cough, menthol-based throat drops for sore throat, and saline nasal rinses or steroid nasal sprays for congestion.
- Gargling with salt water to relieve a sore throat
- Hot tea with honey which has been shown to be as effective as some over the counter cough syrups.
However, Dr. Varela cautions: “Pay attention to the pattern of your symptoms. If you’re feeling better and then suddenly you feel much worse, consider coming in to see a physician because it might be something you need antibiotics for.”
When does it make sense to take an at-home test?
As a general rule, it only makes sense to take a test if it will change how you manage your symptoms. For example, it often makes sense to test if you are experiencing upper respiratory infection symptoms and you have other high risk medical conditions (like COPD or asthma). In this case, a positive test sets you up well for closer management and the prescription of an antiviral treatment, such as tamiflu. Tamiflu, or oseltamavir, is an antiviral that can shorten the duration and lessen the severity of influenza if started within 48 hours of symptom onset. It can also be taken as a preventative treatment for those with known exposure to influenza. As with all medications, there are potential side effects, so everyone should discuss risks vs benefits with their physician to see if it would be recommended for them.
If you aren’t high-risk, it makes sense to treat your symptoms as you normally would, rest up, and rest at home so you don’t expose others.
When should you see a doctor for respiratory symptoms?
Knowing when influenza self-care is insufficient and medical attention is necessary can prevent serious complications, regardless of whether you’re dealing with the flu, COVID, or something else.
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Fever with respiratory symptoms. Especially high or persistent fever may indicate bacterial infection like pneumonia.
- Sore throat with fever and no cough. Especially if you have been exposed to young children or those with known Strep throat infections, as this is a bacterial infection where antibiotics would be indicated.
- Cough with foul smelling, yellow mucus. It is normal for mucus to be a variety of colors, from clear to yellow to green. However, if you notice a foul odor with it, we would need to evaluate for bacterial pneumonia.
- Shortness of breath. Difficulty breathing requires prompt evaluation, and you may need a chest X-ray.
- Worsening chronic conditions. If you have asthma and have difficulty breathing, or experience a COPD flare, come in to get checked.
- Sudden deterioration. If symptoms improve and then suddenly worsen, this pattern suggests a secondary bacterial infection that may require antibiotics.
- Positive home test for COVID or Influenza and you desire antiviral treatment or have high risk conditions (like asthma, COPD, or heart failure) that make antiviral treatment recommended.
For comprehensive primary care and internal medicine services, visit experienced physicians who can evaluate and help you navigate any upper respiratory concerns.
