For those of you battling what seems like a chronic cough for maybe a month or more, you aren’t alone.
Physicians are seeing a spike in such cases. It’s a virus, different from a common cold, flu or allergies for that matter.
It can last four to six weeks (maybe even longer for some).
It’s called Human parainfluenza viruses aka (HPIVs) commonly cause respiratory illnesses in infants and young children. But anyone can it get.
We interviewed Dr. Amy Edwards with UH’s Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. She says the issue is typically the parainfluenza virus. It’s the same virus that can cause croup in children.
Dr. Edwards says its better detected in kids than adults because they test for it in kids regularly, and adults just don’t get tested as much.
Like many viruses there isn’t a cure except to let it run its course.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an extensive outline of HPIVs, which you can read HERE.
One of the best ways to tell if you have the flu -- or just a cold -- is how fast you get sick. If all of the sudden you are sick, it’s likely the flu.
If you felt it come on gradually then you probably have a cold.
A cough and chest discomfort comes with both cold and flu, but if you have a sore throat, are sneezing or have a stuffy nose you most likely have a cold.
If you are tired and weak, have a fever and aches then you likely have the flu. Another big sign: Chills. Those only come with the flu, according to the CDC.