Respiratory Illnesses

What are Respiratory Illnesses?

Respiratory illnesses affect your lungs and airways, making it hard to breathe. There are many viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory illness. It is common to get sick from respiratory illnesses such as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pertussis (whooping cough), especially in the fall and winter. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others. Learn about whether you’re more likely to get seriously ill, how to prevent these illnesses, and if they are currently spreading in your community.

Understanding Your Risk

Anyone can get a respiratory illness. Some risk factors can make it more likely for a person to get very sick from one of these illnesses. The following groups may have risk factors that make it more likely that they could get very sick:

Children under 5 years old: Young children, particularly infants, have immune systems that are still developing. They also have smaller lungs and airways that make respiratory viruses more of a threat.
Older adults: As people age, their immune systems do not work as well. Older adults are also more likely to have underlying health conditions that can put them at higher risk of getting very sick.
Pregnant people: Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy can put pregnant people at higher risk of getting very sick.
People with disabilities: Some disabilities can raise a person's risk of getting very sick from respiratory illnesses.
People with weakened immune systems: People with weakened immune systems have lower defenses against infections. Their bodies may also have a harder time building lasting protection from past infection or immunization. People can have a weakened immune system from a medical condition or from certain medications or treatments.

Prevention Tools

You can use strategies and tools to lower your chances of catching or spreading a respiratory illness. These strategies can also lower your likelihood of getting very sick if you do catch one. Each prevention tool you use adds to your overall protection!

Vaccines

Vaccines are the safest way to build immunity. Vaccines help the body learn how to defend itself from disease without the dangers of infection. The immunity you gain from vaccination can reduce your risk of infection and becoming very sick if you do get infected.
- U.S. CDC recommends that all people aged 6 months and older stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and receive a seasonal flu vaccine.
- If you are 60 years and older, talk to your health care provider to see if RSV vaccination is right for you. U.S. CDC also recommends that all infants receive an immunization to protect them from getting very sick with RSV.
U.S. CDC recommends Pertussis vaccination for everyone. Babies and children younger than 7 years old receive DTaP, while older children and adults receive Tdap.

Handwashing and cleaning

Handwashing with soap removes most germs, including respiratory viruses and bacteria, from your hands. If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can kill these germs.
Using household cleaners that contain soap or detergent will remove germs and dirt on surfaces.
- To sanitize a surface or object, use a weaker bleach solution or an EPA-registered sanitizing spray.

Stay Home When Sick

Stay home and away from others if you feel sick. Go back to your normal activities when:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall for at least 24 hours, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours.

Masks

Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of spreading germs to other people. A mask can also help protect the wearer from breathing in germs from people around them. Different masks offer different levels of protection. Wearing the most protective mask you can comfortably wear for long periods of time that covers your nose and mouth is the most effective option.

Air Quality Improvements

Viral particles in the air spread between people more readily indoors than outdoors. Air quality improvement practices, such as opening windows or using air filters, can reduce the amount of viruses and bacteria you are exposed to.

Symptoms and Care

Common Symptoms of Respiratory Illness

Cough
Congestion or runny nose
Sore throat
Fever or Chills
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches

Testing

If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness, there are tests that can help determine which illness you may have. This can help you know what prevention steps are best to take. COVID-19 and flu tests are available over the counter. Your health care provider can help you get tested for flu, RSV, COVID-19, or other respiratory illnesses.

Treatment

If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness, talk with a health care provider. Treatment options are available for some illnesses.

Prescription antivirals are available for viruses like COVID-19 and flu. Antivirals can lower your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death if started soon after you become infected.

Antibiotics are available for treating pertussis. Antibiotics may make the infection less serious and help prevent spreading the bacteria.

Other viruses, like RSV, are treated with supportive care and over the counter medications.

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention