Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsParainfluenza vs. InfluenzaTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Parainfluenza vs. Influenza
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Outlook
This article looks at the differences between parainfluenza and the flu, including their symptoms, causes, and treatments.
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Although symptoms of parainfluenza are usually milder than the flu, symptoms can sometimes worsen and lead to bronchitis, croup, or pneumonia. Vaccines and antiviral medications are available for the flu, but they don’t protect against or treat parainfluenza.
This table summarizes the differences between parainfluenza and influenza:
Parainfluenza Types
Parainfluenza viruses are common causes of respiratory illness. Parainfluenza infections are most likely to occur in the spring, summer, and fall.Most cases of parainfluenza occur in young children, but you can get parainfluenza at any age.
There are four different types of HPIV:
Symptoms vary depending on both the viral type and the individual.
Parainfluenza Symptoms
After exposure, it takes between two to seven days for symptoms to develop. Most of the time, the virus causes an upper respiratory infection, which may include the following symptoms:
In most cases, symptoms are not severe and may be similar to the common cold. Sometimes, however, symptoms can progressively worsen and may lead to lower respiratory infections in the main bronchial tube of the lungs (bronchitis), the smaller air passages (bronchiolitis), or the lung itself (pneumonia).
Symptoms of lower respiratory infection may include:
Children under 18 months of age, persons with weakened immune systems, and theelderlyare most at risk for severe parainfluenza symptoms.Call 911 or go to the emergency room if a person is having difficulty breathing.
What Causes Parainfluenza?
As with the cold and flu, parainfluenza can be easily passed from person to person. The virus itself is quite robust and can live on surfaces for up to 10 hours.As a result, it can spread rapidly through places where people spend a lot of time in close quarters, such as daycares and elementary schools.
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After examining you and listening to your lungs, your healthcare provider may order imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray orcomputed tomography (CT) scan, to check forpneumoniaand determine the right course of treatment for you.
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How Is Parainfluenza Treated?
If symptoms are mild, there is usually no need for medical intervention. In cases of fever or body aches, Tylenol (acetaminophen) or an over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu remedy may be used. (Children and adolescents should not take aspirin; read other product labels for the recommended age for use.)
Secondary pneumonia is typicallytreatedwith antibiotics.
Parainfluenza transmission is prevented the same way as the cold or flu:
Long-Term Outlook
Parainfluenza is not usually serious. Most people start to feel better in about seven to 10 days.
Infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to experiencing serious illness, including bronchitis and pneumonia. If you or your child develop a barking cough, wheezing, chest pain, or shortness of breath, seek medical attention.
A Word From Verywell
Parainfluenza is more common than most people realize and, in most cases, is not of great concern. In fact, most people won’t know whether they’ve caught a cold or HPIV—and it usually doesn’t matter. However, if symptoms worsen or persist, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) spreads.Dare RK, Talbot TR.Health care-acquired viral respiratory diseases.Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2016;30(4):1053-1070. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2016.07.004Bjornson C, Russell K, Vandermeer B, Klassen TP, Johnson DW.Nebulized epinephrine for croup in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(10):CD006619. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006619.pub3
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) spreads.Dare RK, Talbot TR.Health care-acquired viral respiratory diseases.Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2016;30(4):1053-1070. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2016.07.004Bjornson C, Russell K, Vandermeer B, Klassen TP, Johnson DW.Nebulized epinephrine for croup in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(10):CD006619. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006619.pub3
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) spreads.Dare RK, Talbot TR.Health care-acquired viral respiratory diseases.Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2016;30(4):1053-1070. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2016.07.004Bjornson C, Russell K, Vandermeer B, Klassen TP, Johnson DW.Nebulized epinephrine for croup in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(10):CD006619. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006619.pub3
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of influenza viruses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Influenza.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) spreads.
Dare RK, Talbot TR.Health care-acquired viral respiratory diseases.Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2016;30(4):1053-1070. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2016.07.004
Bjornson C, Russell K, Vandermeer B, Klassen TP, Johnson DW.Nebulized epinephrine for croup in children.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(10):CD006619. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006619.pub3
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