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 help 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, like asthma and COPD
- 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
Vaccines
Talk to your doctor to see if you are up to date on your vaccinations.
- Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older.
- RSV vaccination is recommended for all adults 75 years of age and older, and 60-74 at increased risk for severe RSV illness.
- COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older.
- RSV vaccination is recommended as an option to help protect babies from severe RSV illness and is given during weeks 32-36 of pregnancy typically in September through January.
Learn more about COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines
RSV preventive antibodies
If you have an infant or are an expectant parent, talk to your healthcare provider about a RSV preventive antibody to help provide protection against severe RSV illness.
This preventive antibody is recommended for all infants under 8 months of age and babies/toddlers between 8-19 months who are at increased risk of severe RSV and is typically given in October through March.
Tests
There are tests available to help tell your healthcare provider which virus you have. Testing can help inform next steps such as treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about testing right away if you get sick, especially if you are at increased risk for severe illness.