Why do colds seem so bad this year? Here's what's going on.
It seems as if respiratory illnesses are back with a vengeance. Nearly everyone is catching the rhinovirus — the most frequent cause of the common cold — this winter season, but for many people it’s not just a case of the sniffles. The runny nose and nagging cough feel more intense and seem to linger longer than they did with previous colds. And in some cases, the nasty symptoms resurface within weeks.
According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), outpatient respiratory illnesses are surging across the country, with visits to health care providers up 6.9% above the baseline. During the week ending Dec. 30, there were approximately 35,000 people admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 and more than 20,000 patients admitted with the flu (with positive cases up by 17.5%). Hospitalization rates for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are also still elevated, particularly among young children and older adults.
So, are the viruses causing the common cold actually more intense this season? Here, two doctors offer some insight.
Are the cold viruses different this year?
For starters, it’s not surprising to have elevated rates of respiratory illness after the holiday season, when millions of people had gathered indoors — most likely without masks — and in less ventilated spaces, including homes, cars, planes, trains or buses. Additionally, doctors say there is nothing out of the ordinary about the rhinovirus, or any virus, circulating this year. What has changed, however, is the precautions people are taking — or more accurately, not taking — at this stage of the pandemic.
“It’s not that the viruses are different or more severe, but our bodies have not seen many of these viruses in a long time,” Dr. Theresa Fiorito, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island, tells Yahoo Life. “We have not had ‘the practice’ of fighting them for at least two to three years.”
The American Hospital Association, the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals and health care networks, refers to this as “immunity debt” or “immunity gap.” It’s a debated — and often misunderstood — theory since it’s not an established medical term. Some experts suggest that society has immunity debt because the immune system has not been “challenged” enough after several years of COVID-19 precautions, including social distancing, while other experts say it’s not that our immune systems are weaker, it’s that we just haven’t been exposed to many of these viruses thanks to precautions taken during the first few years of the pandemic.
As for the other factors that could be causing more severe and persistent respiratory symptoms, experts say that the overall strength of a person’s immune system and how it responds to different pathogens also plays a crucial role. “For example, people with underlying pulmonary issues, such as asthma, may also have more ‘reactive’ airways,” notes Fiorito.
A 2023 article published in the journal Frontiers in Allergy states that, along with crowding and immune status, factors that influence getting the common cold include stress, age, diet and sleep patterns, as well as smoking, drinking and exercise habits. The author also noted that the mild symptoms of rhinitis (a common viral infection of the nose and throat) “may develop into a lower respiratory tract infection with serious morbidity and mortality in infants, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.”
The type of respiratory virus matters, too. “Some viral illnesses we see in children are more notorious for causing prolonged fevers and symptoms than others,” explains Fiorito. One example is the adenovirus, another common virus that typically causes mild cold- or flu-like illness in people of all ages. “It is going around right now and even ran through my own family last week,” she says.
How to treat and prevent colds
While there is still no cure for the common cold, supportive care is important, Dr. Jen Caudle, family physician and associate professor at Rowan University, tells Yahoo Life. “Rest, stay hydrated, eat a nutritious diet and utilize over-the-counter or prescription medications at your doctor's advice to help ease symptoms,” she says.
If you or your little ones are suffering from the classic cold symptoms — nasal congestion, sore throat, body aches, fever — maintain distance from others. “Just because your child doesn’t have a fever doesn’t mean their runny nose and cough aren’t catching, so keep them home,” stresses Fiorito.
The CDC further recommends refraining from sharing cups and utensils with others and washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom. When it comes to better protecting ourselves from catching a cold or getting a rebound cold, good hand hygiene is a must. “If soap and water are not available to wash hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol,” suggests Caudle.
Also, keeping your hands away from your face is key. “Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth,” says Caudle, particularly after using the bathroom and after touching doorknobs, elevator buttons and other items that are touched a lot. “Plus, disinfect commonly used surfaces frequently,” she says.
Both doctors also recommend masking up, particularly in crowded indoor spaces. “Masks are not only good for COVID-19, but they help minimize exposure to other respiratory viruses,” says Caudle.
