Earlier in the pandemic, I read a story about a family of three who struggled to get COVID-19 tests. Each presented a slightly different set of suspicious symptoms: the son was pale, sweaty, achy, and clearly ill; the mother had a tickle in her throat and a persistent headache; the father, a lingering cough. Turns out, the sickest one — the son — didn’t test positive for COVID-19. Instead, he had a pretty straightforward case of hand, foot, and mouth disease. But in the time of coronavirus, every cough and fever is suspect.
“[I]n this epidemic, with a bug we still know so little about and one that is moving so quickly, everything can look, at least at first, a lot like COVID-19,” Lisa Sanders, M.D., wrote in her New York Times column, Diagnosis, about the family.
Part of the confusion is the generalized paranoia, especially where coronavirus cases are surging. But also, the symptoms of COVID-19 are all over the place. We expect the fever, aches, dry cough, shortness of breath, and the signature loss of smell. But some people have diarrhea and vomiting. Some — kids especially — get swollen, itchy, purple feet, known as COVID toes, or red eyes (like conjunctivitis). And then there’s the most confounding thing about COVID-19 — hardly any symptoms at all.
Once kids start to reenter society — going to the beach, playing outside with a friend or two, or, you know, going to Walt Disney World now that it’s open — they are bound to catch something. Any and all symptoms should be discussed with a health care provider, and should be weighed against the risks you’ve taken, but as your mind goes straight to COVID-19, it helps to remember all the other viruses, bugs, and germs that are also out and about this time of year.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Human parainfluenza virus (HPIV)
There are four types of HPIV, most of which peak in spring and early summer. Like other respiratory viruses, infections are typically mild and include cold-like symptoms.
Adenovirus
Adenoviruses can cause an array of cold-like symptoms, including fever, sore throat, bronchitis, and pneumonia but also diarrhea, and even pink eye (conjunctivitis). And while adenovirus infections occur year-round, in kids and adults alike, it’s slightly more common in spring and early summer.
Strep throat
The streptococcus bacterium that causes strep throat — with top symptoms being fever and sore throat — doesn’t care what month it is.
West Nile virus
In just about every corner of the U.S., summer equals mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses. One in particular, the West Nile virus, can cause mild flu symptoms.
Lyme disease
As ticks spread across the nation, Lyme disease is of increasing concern. It’s possible to not notice the initial tick bite that causes the disease, so the ensuing flu-like symptoms, pain, and fatigue can be perplexing.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke, or sunstroke, can sometimes sneak up on you on a hot summer day. Symptoms include nausea, headache, confusion, rapid breathing and — notably — no sweating.
