Overview

Respiratory illness is caused by viruses or bacteria that affect the airway and lungs. Respiratory illness can be spread by coughing, sneezing or face-to-face contact.

Symptoms of a respiratory illness include cough, runny or stuffy nose and sore throat, which may be caused by one of the following:

• COVID-19
• influenza (flu)
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• rhinovirus and other viruses that cause the common cold

You can protect yourself from some respiratory illnesses by staying up to date with your vaccines. Learn more about getting immunized against respiratory illness.

Assessing respiratory illness symptoms

If you have symptoms of respiratory illness, use the assessment tool to help decide if you should talk to someone about your symptoms or need additional care. You can do an assessment for yourself or another person, like a child or youth or someone else you are caring for.

Your healthcare provider will let you know if respiratory illness testing is recommended for your care.

If you have symptoms

When you are sick with any type of respiratory illness:

• Stay home until you feel well enough to do your regular activities and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours.
• Avoid visiting healthcare facilities unless you need emergency care.
• Cover your cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue, not your hand. Put used tissues in the garbage.
• Wash your hands well and often. Use warm water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Once you feel well enough to resume your regular activities, when you leave your home consider wearing a mask for 5 days when you are indoors with others. This is especially important around people who could get very sick, such as older adults or people with weak immune systems.