Every year many people get infections in parts of the body that affect breathing, such as the throat, airways, or lungs (respiratory infections). These infections are usually caused by viruses (germs) like COVID-19, Influenza, RSV, and colds. Other germs such as bacteria can cause infections in the lungs (pneumonia).
While a cold is a very common illness that usually gets better without treatment, other infections like Influenza or COVID-19 can make some people very sick leading to hospitalization and death, especially for very young children and older adults or those who have other health conditions.
Many respiratory infections have the same symptoms but can cause very different illnesses and outcomes. No matter what the respiratory illness is, there are actions that can be taken to help keep yourself and others healthy and stop the spread of respiratory illness.
If your health care provider has told you that you have a specific respiratory illness, you should follow their instructions.
KFL&A Public Health tracks respiratory illness activity in our region and shares this information on the respiratory illness surveillance in KFL&A dashboard and our viral respiratory mapper tool.
Most respiratory germs are easily spread through:
- The air when a person coughs or sneezes and the germs land in the nose, mouth or eyes of a person who is nearby (usually within six feet away) or are breathed into the lungs.
- Touch, like kissing or holding hands with someone who is sick (direct contact).
- Touching an object or surface that has germs on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes (indirect contact). This is a less common way of spreading.
Preventing respiratory illnesses
Each of the following actions adds a layer of protection that can lower the chance of you or those around you becoming sick with a respiratory illness. Use as many of these actions as you can, as often as you can.
Get immunized |
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Stay up to date with influenza, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations. If you are over the age of 65 or have any health conditions, talk to a health care provider about what other vaccinations are available to you. |
Wear a mask |
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The Province of Ontario and KFL&A Public Health recommend wearing a mask:
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Clean your hands |
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Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or clean with alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60 to 90% alcohol). Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. |
Cover your coughs and sneezes |
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Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand, or use disposable tissues and be sure to dispose of them in a lined waste basket and wash your hands immediately afterwards. |
Stay home when you are sick |
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Check regularly for symptoms of respiratory illness. To prevent the spread of illness, stay away from others when you are sick, except to seek testing or medical care if needed. You should stay away from others until:
To protect those in your household from infection:
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Stay away from people at higher risk for serious illness |
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Continue to wear a well fitted mask for 10 days after symptoms start. Avoid contact with people who have weakened immune systems, very young children, and older adults. If you have been told you have a specific infection, your health care provider or public health will give you instructions on preventing the spread of the infection. |
Notify people that might have been exposed |
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People with respiratory illness should notify anyone who they had close contact with while they had symptoms. If you have been told you were around someone with respiratory illness, follow these steps for 10 days after you last saw the person who is sick:
A health care provider or public health will provide specific instructions for certain infections. |
Improve ventilation and air filtration |
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Ensure good indoor air ventilation. It replaces indoor air with outdoor air which will decrease the amount of virus or bacteria that may be in the air. When possible, keep windows open at home or in a vehicle. Air purifiers are also known as portable air filtration devices. When used properly, they can reduce the amount of some viruses (germs) in the air. |
Who is at risk of serious illness?
Infants, young children, and older adults, as well as those who have a weakened immune system or have other health conditions are more at risk for serious illness requiring hospitalization or sometimes death. Taking steps to prevent illness such as staying away from others when sick and making sure you are up to date with immunizations are important prevention measures.
Comparison of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and colds
| COVID-19 | Influenza | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Cold (rhinovirus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 14 days | 1 to 4 days | 3 to 7 days | 2 to 4 days |
| Symptom | COVID-19 | Influenza | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Cold (rhinovirus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | Common | Common | Common | Rare |
| Fatigue | Common | Common | Common | Rare |
| Cough | Common | Common | Common | Common |
| Aches and pains | Common | Common | Common | Sometimes |
| Runny or stuffy nose | Sometimes | Common | Common | Common |
| Sore throat | Sometimes | Common | Common | Common |
| Diarrhea | Common | Sometimes | Sometimes | Rare |
| Headaches | Common | Common | Common | Rare |
| Shortness of breath | Sometimes | Sometimes | Sometimes | Never |
| Loss of smell or taste | Sometimes | Never | Never | Never |
| COVID-19 | Influenza | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Cold (rhinovirus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 vaccine and boosters | Annual influenza vaccine | No vaccine | No vaccine |
| COVID-19 | Influenza | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Cold (rhinovirus) |
|---|---|---|---|
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Blood clots, Pneumonia, Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) |
Pneumonia, can worsen a current chronic condition, can be life-threatening | Pneumonia, bronchiolitis | Can lead to sinus congestion or earache |
Treatment
Most respiratory illnesses can be treated with rest, fluids, and medication to reduce fever and pain. If you are feeling very sick and need medical attention, contact your health care provider.
- Visit the Ontario College of Family Physicians website for tips on caring for:
- Children with respiratory symptoms and
- teens and adults with respiratory symptoms
Some people who have respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19, can be treated with Paxlovid. Paxlovid treatment is a medication available in pharmacies, without a prescription from a physician, for people who are eligible. See the COVID-19 antiviral treatment screener to determine if you are eligible for treatment.
If you cannot access a health care provider, or do not have a health care provider, contact Health811, by calling 8-1-1 (TTY 1-866-797-0007), or join a live chat with a health care navigator.