Cold, Flu, COVID-19, & RSV Testing

Service Description

Same Day Antigen, or PCR. Cold, flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), symptoms are similar and are often on the rise during the fall/winter months. If you have symptoms such as a cough or fever, make an appointment with Carbon Health to find out what specifically is causing your symptoms. This can help clinicians recommend appropriate treatment and recommendations. Is RSV on the rise? And if so, why?Yes. RSV and flu cases are on the rise. With vaccines and communities masking less, and children back in schools and daycares more regularly, it has given RSV an opportunity to surge. Can adults get RSV? Yes, adults can get RSV. Adults often experience symptoms that are similar to the common cold; however, if you have any chronic conditions such as lung or heart disease, or you are above the age of 65, you are considered high risk for complications from RSV. What is the difference between a cold and the flu? A cold is a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract for anywhere from two to ten days. Cold symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, a sore throat, a cough, and fatigue. The flu may also cause those symptoms, as well as others that are less common with a cold — including a fever, body aches, and nausea. Symptoms of the flu are typically more severe than those of a cold. Because cold, flu, and COVID-19 symptoms are similar, it is important to get a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms. When is cold and flu season? In the U.S., cold and flu season typically starts in the fall, when people start gathering more indoors and the school year begins. This season can last through late spring. How are colds and the flu spread? Colds and the flu are spread primarily through the air, via droplet contamination. This means that when a person coughs or sneezes, droplets of mucus containing microscopic virus particles can be inhaled by other people or land on surfaces where other people can touch them and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. It typically takes one to four days after infection before symptoms develop; during this incubation period, an infected person can spread the virus. How long does a cold or the flu last? Most cold and flu symptoms last about five to seven days. Some symptoms, like fatigue or cough, can linger for a few weeks as your body recovers. For the flu, prescribed antivirals may shorten the length of symptoms when taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, and may be recommended for people with certain risk factors.