At some point this fall and winter, you’ve probably had a cough or a cold and maybe even something more.

Dr. Caitlin Chiles of Hunter Health in east Wichita says that, like many other places, their clinic has seen several more cases of RSV and influenza this year, as well as persistent Covid cases.

She says part of what has caused more people to need medical treatment for these illnesses is how few people have been exposed to influenza and RSV in the past two years. “We just know that antibodies decline over time in the face of diseases. So if it’s been a while since you’ve been exposed to something or you’re exposed to something new, it’s going to hit your body harder.

Chiles says that with people home for the holiday season or for holiday parties or vacations, it’s more important than ever to know what your symptoms are with these illnesses. She says if people are feeling sick they should stay away from others to prevent the spread.

“All share similar symptoms of fatigue, body aches, fever, congestion, and cough. COVID still has that rare symptom of loss of taste and smell, but there’s a lot of overlap.

So how can you tell the difference when the three are so similar? Chiles says RSV usually strikes young children or the elderly more hard. As for the flu and Covid, she says the best option is to get tested. “If you can test Covid before you go to a gathering to make sure you don’t unknowingly spread it, because we know Covid can spread a few days before you show symptoms, which is unique compared to the flu or regular colds.”