Many respiratory viruses circulate in the fall and winter seasons causing illness of varying severity across the United States. Three common viruses include flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19. There are factors, such as having a chronic lung disease that increase your risk for severe illness from respiratory viruses. Learn more about these risk factors, how to prevent infectious respiratory illnesses and where to get more information.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Anyone can get sick from an infectious respiratory illness; however, some people are at increased risk of getting severe illnesses. Some risk factors include:
- Age
- Children under 5 have developing immune systems and smaller lungs and airways.
- Older adults experience natural weakening of the immune system, making it more difficult to defend against infectious respiratory diseases. The risk of getting severe illness increases with age.
- Underlying Medical Conditions
- People with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from infectious respiratory diseases. An individual with asthma, for example, may already have increased swelling and mucus production in their airways. The addition of a respiratory virus such as flu can further increase swelling and mucus production making it harder for the body to deal with the stress from the flu infection. A few examples of underlying medical conditions include:
- Chronic lung diseases
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Weakened immune system
- People with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from infectious respiratory diseases. An individual with asthma, for example, may already have increased swelling and mucus production in their airways. The addition of a respiratory virus such as flu can further increase swelling and mucus production making it harder for the body to deal with the stress from the flu infection. A few examples of underlying medical conditions include:
Tools Available to Help Prevent Severe Illness from flu, RSV and COVID-19
Everyday Habits to Help Protect Against Illness
Handwashing. Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water isn’t available.
Cover your cough and sneeze. Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. You can use your elbow if a tissue is not available.
Keep your distance from people that are sick. While this is not always possible, the closer you are to an individual that is sick, the more likely you are to be exposed to respiratory droplets containing a virus.
Stay home when you are sick. In addition to staying home when you are sick, try your best to keep your distance from others in your home to help prevent them from getting sick.
Clean and disinfect. When someone is sick in the home, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces is especially important to help prevent spreading illness to other members of the home.
Mask wearing. You may choose to wear a mask to help provide protection against circulating viruses. Masks can help protect people at higher risk of serious illness. Their effectiveness does vary depending on the virus and mask quality.
Blog last updated: October 19, 2023
