Flu worsens amid COVID, RSV: What to know about symptoms, vaccine - USA TODAY

Though the “tripledemic” – COVID-19, RSV and influenza – remains a occupation successful galore places, experts accidental the flu is opening to deed the state hard.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious illness specializer astatine Vanderbilt University Medical Center successful Nashville, Tennessee, said helium has seen the archetypal signs that RSV infections whitethorn beryllium stabilizing aft an aboriginal jump, while COVID-19 is “smoldering.”

But “influenza is fierce,” helium said.

About 20,000 radical were hospitalized with the flu past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, astir treble the fig from the week before. 

"Hospitalizations for flu proceed to beryllium the highest we person seen astatine this clip of twelvemonth successful a decade," CDC manager Dr. Rochelle Walensky said successful a briefing Tuesday. 

Here's what to know:

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COVID, RSV, flu: The authorities of the 'tripledemic'

COVID-19: Experts accidental coronavirus cases nary longer springiness an close representation of the pandemic arsenic Americans trial astatine location and results spell unreported. But wellness officials are seeing an summation successful cases and hospitalizations since Thanksgiving, Walensky said. In the past week of November, the CDC reported: 

• 4,650 hospitalizations
• 1,780 deaths

RSV: Transmission remains high but appears to person "peaked" successful the South and Southeast, and is "leveling off" successful the mid-Atlantic, New England and Midwest, Walensky said

Influenza: Thirty-one jurisdictions successful the United States, which includes states, large cities and territories, report a “very high” level of flu activity, and 16 study “high” levels, according to the CDC. So acold this season, the agency has reported: 

• 8.7 cardinal cases
• 78,000 hospitalizations 
• 4,500 deaths

Flu symptoms: What does flu consciousness like?

Flu symptoms: Fever, chills, musculus aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headache and fatigue.

Flu strains: There are 4 types of influenza viruses – A, B, C and D – but the strains that typically origin seasonal flu unwellness are influenza A and B. The CDC says influenza C chiefly causes mild illness and influenza D is usually seen successful cattle, not people. 

How agelong does the flu last?

Signs and symptoms of the flu typically resoluteness aft 3 to 7 days, according to the CDC, but wide weakness and fatigue tin past up to 2 weeks. 

Read much vaccine news:

• Flu and COVID: A operation vaccine is successful the works
• RSV and kids: RSV A look astatine vaccines and antibodies being developed to combat RSV

Flu vaccine: Where to get the flu shot?

This year’s flu vaccine is simply a bully lucifer for the 3 strains Schaffner said he's seeing astir often successful Nashville. The prevalence of each 3 strains astatine the aforesaid clip is what experts judge “accounts, astatine slightest successful part, (for) wherefore it is we’re having truthful overmuch influenza,” helium said.

But not capable radical are getting vaccinated against the flu. About 40% of children were vaccinated arsenic of Nov. 19 and astir 36% of adults astatine the extremity of October, the latest information disposable from the CDC shows. 

“Here, arsenic everywhere, the acceptance of the influenza vaccine has been disappointing,” helium said. “People truly person vaccine fatigue.”

Experts accidental it's ne'er excessively precocious to get a flu shot. Here's wherever to get one:

• Doctor's office: Experts counsel radical to telephone up earlier making an assignment to marque definite the vaccine they privation oregon request is available. 
• Pharmacy: Major pharmacy retailers, specified arsenic Walgreens and CVS, connection flu vaccines and judge walk-ins or appointments online. 

What is the quality betwixt a acold and flu?

Cold symptoms are generally less severe than the flu, but many symptoms overlap: fever, runny nose, sore throat, coughing and wide fatigue. 

The lone definitive way to cognize the quality betwixt a acold oregon the flu is done testing, experts say. Patients tin beryllium tested simultaneously for COVID-19 and influenza with a azygous swab.

How to dainty the flu

Experts accidental astir flu infections tin beryllium treated astatine location with remainder and plentifulness of fluids. Doctors can, however,  prescribe an antiviral to patients who are astatine hazard of terrible disease. 

Four antivirals are authorized for flu successful the United States, but the astir wide used is known by its marque sanction Tamiflu.

But antivirals enactment champion erstwhile taken aboriginal successful the disease, truthful it's important to sermon options with a doc earlier getting sick, said Dr. Pedro Piedra, prof of molecular virology and microbiology astatine Baylor College of Medicine. 

"We’re into the flu play present without a question, and there's a batch of it each astir us," helium said. "Planning up is important." 

Contributing: Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez connected Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT. 

Health and diligent information sum astatine USA TODAY is made imaginable successful portion by a assistance from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition successful Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not supply editorial input.