Navigating the Triple Threat: Your Guide to Flu, COVID-19, and RSV This Winter

If you’ve noticed more people around Richmond sniffling, coughing, and reaching for tissues lately, you’re not imagining things. January marks the peak of respiratory illness season, and this year brings a familiar challenge: the simultaneous circulation of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). For families across Katy, Aliana, and West Houston, understanding these three common respiratory viruses can make all the difference in protecting your health and knowing when to seek care.

Dr. Luke Afuwape, MD, board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and founder of Urgent Care Plus & Wellness, sees this convergence every winter. With over 15 years of emergency medicine experience, Dr. Afuwape emphasizes that while these viruses share similar symptoms, knowing their differences helps you make informed decisions about your care.

Why January Brings Peak Respiratory Illness Activity

The winter months create perfect conditions for respiratory viruses to thrive. When Richmond temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors with less ventilation, viruses spread more easily. According to the CDC’s 2025-2026 respiratory disease season outlook, peak hospitalizations typically occur in late December through early January, with flu season extending through February.

This pattern isn’t new, but the combination of three major respiratory viruses circulating simultaneously creates what healthcare providers call heightened respiratory activity. For urgent care centers serving the Greater Houston area, January consistently brings the highest volume of patients seeking treatment for respiratory symptoms.

Understanding the Big Three Respiratory Viruses

Each of these viruses behaves differently, even when symptoms overlap:

• Influenza (Flu): The flu spreads through respiratory droplets when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk. Symptoms typically appear suddenly and include fever, body aches, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms. Flu season in Texas generally peaks between December and February, with influenza A being the predominant strain this year.
• COVID-19: Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 continues to circulate year-round with increased activity during winter months. While many people now have some immunity through vaccination or previous infection, new variants continue to emerge. Symptoms range from mild cold-like signs to more severe respiratory distress.
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): This highly contagious virus affects people of all ages but poses the greatest risk to infants, young children, and older adults. RSV typically presents like a common cold in healthy adults but can cause serious respiratory complications in vulnerable populations. The virus spreads readily through contaminated surfaces, making handwashing especially important.

Recognizing When Symptoms Require Medical Attention

Most respiratory infections can be managed at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications for symptom relief. However, certain warning signs indicate you should visit Urgent Care Plus & Wellness for evaluation:

Seek same-day care if you experience:

• High fever (above 103°F) that persists for more than three days
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath at rest
• Persistent chest pain or pressure
• Severe or worsening cough that interferes with sleep or daily activities
• Dehydration symptoms including decreased urination or extreme thirst
• Confusion or significant difficulty staying awake
• Blue-tinted lips or face indicating low oxygen levels

Additional concerns for infants and young children:

• Rapid breathing or visible retractions between ribs when breathing
• Wheezing or high-pitched breathing sounds
• Refusing to eat or showing signs of dehydration
• Extreme irritability or lethargy
• Fever in infants under three months old

Richmond families benefit from having an urgent care center that can provide rapid testing to identify which virus is causing symptoms. Dr. Afuwape’s team offers comprehensive diagnostic capabilities including flu, COVID-19, and RSV testing, allowing for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.

How These Viruses Spread Differently

Understanding transmission patterns helps you take targeted prevention measures:

COVID-19 and flu primarily spread through airborne respiratory droplets and aerosols when infected individuals breathe, speak, cough, or sneeze. These tiny particles can linger in indoor air, making ventilation and masks effective preventive tools.

RSV spreads more readily through surface contamination than the other two viruses. A child with RSV might touch their nose, then touch a toy or doorknob, transferring the virus to surfaces where it can survive for hours. Another child touching that same surface and then touching their face can become infected.

This difference matters for prevention strategies. While masks and avoiding crowded indoor spaces help reduce COVID-19 and flu transmission, frequent handwashing and surface cleaning become especially important for preventing RSV spread in households with young children.

Treatment Options That Actually Work

When you visit Urgent Care Plus & Wellness, your treatment plan depends on which virus you have and how severe your symptoms are:

• For influenza: Antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) work best when started within the first 48 hours of symptom onset. These medications can reduce the duration of illness and help prevent complications. They’re particularly important for high-risk individuals including young children, seniors, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions.
• For COVID-19: Several antiviral treatments are now available for people at higher risk of severe illness. Paxlovid and other antivirals can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization when started early in the course of infection. Your urgent care provider can determine if you’re a candidate for these treatments.
• For RSV: Unlike flu and COVID-19, there are no specific antiviral medications for RSV in most patients. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and ensuring adequate hydration and oxygen levels. Severe cases, particularly in infants or elderly patients, may require hospitalization for supportive care.

Regardless of which virus you have, supportive care remains essential. This includes staying well-hydrated, getting plenty of rest, using fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen as appropriate, and monitoring symptoms for any worsening.

Prevention Strategies for West Houston Families

The good news is that many prevention strategies work against all three viruses:

• Vaccination remains your best defense: Annual flu vaccines reduce your risk of severe illness and complications. Updated COVID-19 boosters provide protection against current variants. Pregnant women can receive RSV vaccination to protect their newborns, and infants can receive preventive antibody treatment during RSV season.
• Practice respiratory etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, not your hands. Dispose of tissues immediately and wash your hands afterward. If you’re feeling sick, wearing a mask around others reduces transmission risk significantly.
• Maintain good hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public spaces or caring for sick family members. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol works when soap and water aren’t available.
• Improve indoor air quality: Open windows when weather permits to increase ventilation. Consider using air purifiers with HEPA filters in your Richmond home. Avoid crowded indoor spaces when possible during peak illness season.
• Stay home when sick: If you’re experiencing respiratory symptoms, staying home from work, school, or social gatherings prevents spreading illness to others. Most people are contagious for several days after symptoms begin.

When Home Care Is Enough

Most healthy adults with mild respiratory infections can manage symptoms at home without medical intervention. This includes:

• Low-grade fever (under 101°F) that responds to over-the-counter medications
• Mild cough and congestion
• General fatigue and body aches
• Sore throat

For these symptoms, focus on rest, hydration with water and warm liquids like tea or soup, and appropriate use of pain relievers and fever reducers. Humidifiers can help ease congestion, and gargling with salt water may soothe a sore throat.

However, don’t hesitate to seek care if symptoms worsen or if you’re concerned. Urgent care provides a convenient middle ground between waiting for a primary care appointment and going to the emergency room for non-life-threatening concerns.

The Urgent Care Advantage During Respiratory Season

Emergency rooms become overwhelmed during peak respiratory illness season, leading to long wait times for non-critical cases. Traditional doctor’s offices may struggle to accommodate same-day appointments when everyone is sick simultaneously. Urgent care bridges this gap perfectly.

At Urgent Care Plus & Wellness, walk-in patients receive prompt evaluation without the chaos and expense of an ER visit. The facility offers on-site diagnostic testing, allowing for rapid identification of flu, COVID-19, or RSV. This immediate clarity means appropriate treatment can begin right away, especially important for antiviral medications that work best when started early.

Dr. Afuwape’s emergency medicine background provides the expertise to recognize when symptoms require escalated care while efficiently treating the vast majority of respiratory illnesses that fall below emergency-level severity. The clinic’s convenient location on Bellaire Boulevard serves families throughout Richmond, Katy, Sugar Land, and Mission Bend with extended hours that accommodate busy schedules.

Special Considerations for High-Risk Groups

Certain populations face greater risks from respiratory viruses and should maintain extra vigilance:

• Infants and young children: Their smaller airways make them more vulnerable to respiratory distress from RSV and flu. Parents should monitor breathing patterns closely and seek care promptly for any concerning symptoms.
• Adults over 65: Older adults often have weakened immune systems and may take longer to recover. They’re also at higher risk for complications like pneumonia or exacerbation of chronic conditions.
• Pregnant women: Pregnancy changes immune function and increases susceptibility to severe illness from respiratory viruses. Vaccination during pregnancy protects both mother and baby.
• People with chronic conditions: Asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses increase the risk of complications from respiratory infections. These individuals should work closely with their healthcare providers on prevention and early treatment strategies.
• Immunocompromised individuals: Those with weakened immune systems from cancer treatment, organ transplants, or certain medications need extra precautions to avoid exposure and should seek medical evaluation early if symptoms develop.

What to Expect During Your Urgent Care Visit

If you decide to visit Urgent Care Plus & Wellness for respiratory symptoms, here’s what typically happens:

You’ll be evaluated by a medical professional who will review your symptoms, check vital signs including temperature and oxygen saturation, and listen to your lungs. Based on your presentation and risk factors, testing may be recommended to identify which virus is present.

Results from rapid flu and COVID-19 tests are often available within 15-30 minutes. RSV testing is also available when clinically indicated. This quick turnaround allows for same-visit treatment decisions.

Your provider will discuss treatment options, prescribe medications if appropriate, and give you guidance on home care and warning signs that would warrant a return visit. You’ll also receive information on preventing spread to household members.

Ready to Feel Better This Winter?

January’s respiratory illness surge is predictable, but suffering through it isn’t inevitable. Whether you need rapid testing to identify what’s making you sick, antiviral treatment to shorten your illness, or simply reassurance that your symptoms can be managed at home, professional medical evaluation provides clarity and peace of mind.

Don’t let respiratory illness keep you from enjoying winter in Richmond. Dr. Luke Afuwape and the entire team at Urgent Care Plus & Wellness provide compassionate, expert care when you need it most. With walk-in availability and no appointment necessary, getting the care you deserve has never been more convenient.

Visit Urgent Care Plus & Wellness at their Richmond location serving Katy, Aliana, Mission Bend, Sugar Land, and surrounding West Houston communities. Because your health shouldn’t wait, and neither should you.