Why colds and flu trigger sore throats however RSV won’t

When you catch a chilly or the flu, a sore throat is commonly a symptom, making swallowing and speaking uncomfortable. With Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), signs in adults and older, wholesome youngsters can sometimes mimic the frequent chilly.¹

Cepacol, recognized for its sore throat lozenges, scorching treatment, and now new raspberry-flavoured effervescent, solutions the query: why do colds and flu generally result in sore throats, whereas RSV won’t?

How colds and flu differ from RSV

Influenza, generally referred to as the flu, and the frequent chilly are each contagious respiratory sicknesses, however they’re brought on by completely different viruses. The flu is prompted strictly by influenza viruses, whereas the frequent chilly will be triggered by a wide range of viruses, together with rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and sure coronaviruses.

When you’re down with the flu, a chilly, or one other an infection, your physique springs into motion to battle off the invaders. This immune response entails releasing white blood cells to fight the an infection, resulting in irritation. It’s this irritation that usually leaves your muscle groups feeling achy and sore.

Alongside physique aches, you might also expertise signs like fever, weak spot, fatigue, shivering, or adjustments in physique temperature, in addition to different chilly and flu-like signs.

RSV, alternatively, tends to behave in another way. While it might probably trigger higher respiratory signs like a congested or runny nostril, dry cough, low-grade fever, sneezing, headache and sore throat, RSV could transfer deeper into the respiratory system, affecting the decrease elements just like the lungs. This can result in circumstances similar to bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Why does this matter?

Understanding the variations between colds, flu, and RSV may also help in figuring out the sickness you’re coping with, the therapy wanted, and the way lengthy your restoration will probably be.  Always seek the advice of your well being care practitioner to find out your sickness and therapy choices.

Colds: The frequent chilly is a contagious respiratory sickness brought on by a virus, often with milder signs than flu. People with colds usually tend to have a runny or stuffy nostril, which typically doesn’t lead to critical well being issues.

Flu: Influenza (flu) can be a contagious respiratory sickness, however is brought on by a special virus. Flu is brought on by influenza viruses solely, and usually, flu is worse than the frequent chilly; signs are sometimes extra intense and start extra abruptly.  The indicators and symptoms of flu can embody fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nostril, muscle or physique aches, complications, and fatigue (tiredness).

RSV: Symptoms mostly seem roughly 4 to 6 days after publicity to the virus, with most individuals often recovering from RSV inside one to 2 weeks. Self-care measures are often all that’s wanted to alleviate any discomfort. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults aged 60 and older get an RSV vaccine.

Protecting your self and others

Regardless of the particular virus, practising good hygiene may also help forestall the unfold of those infections. Practising good hygiene is a good begin. Wash your palms incessantly with cleaning soap and water for at the least 20 seconds and use alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

Cover your mouth and nostril with a tissue or the criminal of your elbow whenever you cough or sneeze. Regularly disinfect generally touched surfaces and objects like doorknobs and light-weight switches. Staying residence whenever you’re sick not solely helps you recuperate but in addition prevents spreading sickness to others.

Beat the scratch with Cepacol new raspberry-flavoured effervescent

Don’t let a sore throat gradual you down. Cepacol understands that when discomfort hits, you want reduction to maintain up together with your busy life. That’s why we’ve developed a variety of merchandise designed to appease your throat and get you again to feeling your greatest, together with our newest innovation: the Cepacol Effervescent – a fantastically fizzy, raspberry-flavoured effervescent offers double-duty reduction for the entire household (6+).

Cepacol® Effervescent⁵ helps to reduction signs of chilly and flu similar to sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing and cough, opening of the airways, thinning of mucus and offering reduction of coughs related to irritation of the airways. It additionally helps the immune perform throughout the higher respiratory tract and offers antioxidant help for the upkeep of excellent well being.

In addition to Cepacol®’s newly launchedraspberry-flavoured effervescent⁵, the Cepacol® vary consists of cough and chilly syrup⁹, Plus cough and chilly syrup¹⁰ particularly designed for nighttime reduction, a throat spray¹¹ and throat gargle¹², Medsip, a scorching medicated drink^3&4 in both ginger or honey lemon flavours, and antibacterial throat lozenges² in 4 nice tasting flavours – common, black present, honey & lemon and menthol.

So, whenever you’re coping with a stuffy nostril, cough and scratchy throat, bear in mind, there’s a Cepacol® for that!

Embrace the Winter Warrior inside, with Cepacol®

As we brace ourselves for the winter months, it’s smart to be ready. Adcock Ingram’s Winter Warriors 2025 Campaign affords a variety of merchandise geared toward combating frequent chilly and flu signs. With manufacturers like Cepacol®, Panado®, Compral®, ProbiFlora™, Gummy® Vites and ViralGuard™, you may arm your self and your family members in opposition to the seasonal sniffles.

Cepacol®‘s vary of merchandise is now out there at main pharmacies and retailers nationwide. For extra info and references, go to www.cepacol.co.za and be part of the dialog on Facebook.