
It’s that time of year. Every other week you’ve got a runny nose or fever or caught a cough that just won’t quit. Or, you’re frantically sanitizing your hands and avoiding everyone like the plague.
With COVID, RSV, and flu surging together for the second consecutive year, these symptoms are all too common. Thus, it’s important to take steps to prevent illness and care for yourself to stay healthy this winter.
In this blog post, we review how to prevent respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV, and the flu. We also discuss common symptoms and treatments for these illnesses.
How can you prevent respiratory illness?

Although washing your hands and getting vaccines may seem like a no-brainer, we’re breaking down all the ways you can protect yourself this cold and flu season.
To avoid getting sick you should:
1. Mask
Wear a high-quality mask such as an N95, KN95, or KF94 indoors and in crowded outdoor venues. These masks prevent illness by protecting you from breathing in tiny viral or bacterial particles that can make you sick.
In places where people gather— such as hospitals, community centers, dorms, and gyms— you are especially at risk of catching respiratory illnesses.
If you don’t have access to higher-quality masks, surgical masks still offer some protection. Any mask is better than no mask!
2. Stay up-to-date with vaccines
Get the latest recommended vaccines. These vaccines may vary depending on your age and health status.
According to the CDC:
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year.
Everyone 5 years and older should get a single dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine (released Fall 2023) while children 6 months to 4 years should receive multiple doses.
Adults 60 years and older and pregnant people should receive an RSV vaccine. Babies 8 months or younger should receive an RSV antibody immunization.
3. Practice good hygiene
Wash your hands with soap and water (or use alcohol-based sanitizer) for 20 seconds, making sure to scrub your palms, wrists, and fingers.
Cough and sneeze into your elbow and NOT your hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth after using door handles and shared objects.
Don’t share drinks or utensils.
Disinfect high-traffic areas and surfaces often.
4. Use air purifiers
Use air purifiers indoors to remove particles from the air that may carry viruses, bacteria, or other pollutants that affect our health.
You can also eliminate these illness-causing particles by opening windows and bringing air-purifying plants indoors.
5. Stay home
Avoid or limit attendance at large events and gatherings during surges. Chances are great that someone attending is sick.
Try to meet with friends and family in smaller groups. Equally important, if you start to feel under the weather, skip plans until symptoms improve.
Using these five strategies, you will be well-prepared to weather the storm of rising respiratory infections.
How can you tell if you have COVID, RSV, or Flu?
Sure, those tips are great for preventing you from getting sick. But, what should you do if you already feel sick? How can you tell if you have COVID, RSV, the flu, or just the common cold?
That’s not always an easy answer because these infections often share symptoms. Below we included a graphic that compares the symptoms you might experience with COVID, RSV, and the flu.

Chart based on CDC info.
As shown on the chart, cough, fever, and chills can occur with COVID, flu, or RSV, making it tricky to determine what you’re sick with. The only way to be sure is to get tested when you start experiencing symptoms.
Most urgent cares, ERs, and doctor’s offices can test for these viruses. But, if you don’t feel crummy enough to see the doctor, you can also test yourself at home for Flu and COVID-19.
If you do test positive for Flu or COVID-19, notify your provider as soon as possible as it could impact your medical care.
Is there any treatment?

So, you’ve tested positive for one of these viruses, now what? Are there any medicines or treatments to help you feel better and recover quicker?
For any respiratory illness, you should:
Rest: Take the rest your body needs to recover. Your marathon training can wait a week or two!
Sleep propped up on pillows: This position will help drain mucus and ease shortness of breath.
Hydrate: Drink water and hot liquids like soup and tea, and replenish electrolytes with drinks like Pedialyte. If you have a fever or diarrhea, this advice is especially important as you lose water through sweat and loose stools.
Take over-the-counter medicine: Fever reducers and pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) eliminate fevers and body aches. Cough medicines reduce coughing fits.
Be careful combining medicines and look at ingredient lists. Surprisingly, many cough syrups include acetaminophen (Tylenol), making it easy to accidentally go over the recommended dose.
Use a nasal rinse: Nasal rinse devices clear clogged sinuses. To use this device, fill a bottle with distilled or boiled water and saline packets. Then, squirt the solution into your nose.
In addition, if you have asthma, COPD, or other chronic lung issues, you should take rescue inhalers more frequently while you are sick.
If you are feeling short of breath despite using an inhaler, reach out to your medical provider as some people may also require steroids to improve breathing.
If you test positive for RSV, there is no specific treatment beyond these guidelines. However, there are antiviral medications available for those who test positive for COVID or Flu.
If you test positive for COVID you may be eligible for medications like Paxlovid, Molnuparivir, or Remdesivir.
Paxlovid and Molnuparivir are pills prescribed to people at risk of complications from COVID-19, including those over 50 or with chronic conditions. These pills interact with other medications, so review current meds with a provider before taking anything.
Remdesivir is a medication given by infusion to hospitalized people at risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
Note: You must take these medications within 5-7 days of when you first develop symptoms. Otherwise, they may not be effective.
If you test positive for Flu you may be eligible for antiviral medications like Tamiflu.
Medical providers normally prescribe these medications to people at high risk of complications or hospitalization.
Note: You must take these medications within 1-2 days of when you first develop symptoms for them to be effective.
Though you may be “sick of the pandemic,” illnesses like COVID, RSV, Flu, and nasty stomach bugs are here to stay, making it crucial to protect yourself during cold and flu season. With these prevention and care tips, you can look forward to a winter filled with hot cocoa and ski trips rather than sick days and sniffles.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, December 21). COVID-19 treatments and medications. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, September 29). Immunization overview for fall and winter 2023-2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/immunization-overview-2023-2024.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Protect yourself and others from Flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Retrieved January 15, 2024 from https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 11). Types of masks and respirators. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, January 5). What are Flu antiviral drugs. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm
Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, October 27). Will an air cleaner or air purifier help protect me and my family from COVID-19 in my home? Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/will-air-cleaner-or-air-purifier-help-protect-me-and-my-family-covid-19-my-home
MacIntyre, C. R., Chughtai, A. A., Rahman, B., Peng, Y., Zhang, Y., Seale, H., Wang, X., & Wang, Q. (2017). The efficacy of medical masks and respirators against respiratory infection in healthcare workers. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 11(6), 511-517. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28799710/
Neilmed. (2024). Nasal care. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://shop.neilmed.com/collections/nasal-care
Nirappil, F. (2023, December 12). Covid and flu rising ahead of holidays, increasing ER visits. The Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/12/12/covid-rising-flu-rsv-variant/
Pfizer. (2023). LUCIRA by Pfizer. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.lucirabypfizer.com/
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