Fall Respiratory Illness Information

Flu symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically last 7-10 days.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Tiredness

Some people may also experience diarrhea or vomiting.

To help manage symptoms at home, get extra rest, stay hydrated (water is best), and consider over-the-counter medications.

To relieve body aches and headache or to lower fever, you can try acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can try a nasal or oral decongestant for a stuffy nose, a cough suppressant for a dry, hacking cough, and throat lozenges to soothe a sore throat.

Be safe with medicines and always follow instructions on the label. Cough and cold medicines may not be safe for young children or for people with certain health problems. Consult with a primary care provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about the best over-the-counter medications to try.

If you or someone you’re caring for develops severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Most people with the flu can recover at home, but some symptoms mean you need help right away.

You should go to an emergency department if you are having trouble breathing or start wheezing, if you become very pale or your lips turn white or blue, become very sleepy/difficult to wake, get a fever that stays high and won’t go down, experience repeated vomiting and are unable to keep any liquids down, develop signs of dehydration with dry mouth or no urination or if you get vomiting or diarrhea with a large amount of blood in it.

While anyone can get sick from the flu, some people are more likely to develop serious illness. This includes babies and young children, seniors, people in long-term care homes, people who are pregnant, and people with underlying health conditions.

The flu can worsen chronic conditions like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or congestive heart failure.

If you are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe complications from the flu, you should speak with a healthcare provider or participating pharmacist as testing and treatment options may be available.

The flu shot is an effective, safe way to protect against severe illness from the flu. It is recommended for anyone aged six months and older and is available seasonally at participating pharmacies and through primary care offices.

You can also help to prevent the spread of the flu by staying home when sick, washing your hands often for at least 15 seconds or using hand sanitizer, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask if visiting a healthcare facility.

Commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• New or worsening cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Temperature equal to or more than 38°C
• Feeling feverish
• Chills
• Fatigue or weakness
• Muscle or body aches
• New loss of smell or taste
• Headache
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Feeling very unwell

To help manage symptoms at home, get extra rest, stay hydrated (water is best), and consider over-the-counter medications.

To relieve body aches and headache or to lower fever, you can try acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can try a nasal or oral decongestant for a stuffy nose, a cough suppressant for a dry, hacking cough, and throat lozenges to soothe a sore throat.

Be safe with medicines and always follow instructions on the label. Cough and cold medicines may not be safe for young children or for people with certain health problems. Consult with a primary care provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about the best over-the-counter medications to try.

You should go to an emergency department if you have:

• Trouble breathing (working hard to breathe, breathing faster than normal)
• Pale skin
• Lips that look white or blue
• Asthma or wheezing
• Any of the following symptoms:
  • Very sleepy/difficult to wake
  • A prolonged or very high fever
  • Repeated vomiting and unable to keep any liquids down
  • Vomiting or diarrhea containing a large amount of blood
  • Signs of dehydration with dry mouth or no urination

You may be at risk of more severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19 if you:

• Haven't received all of your recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses
• Are an older person (risk increases progressively with age in older adults)
• Are immunocompromised
• Have a chronic medical condition, such as asthma (moderate to severe), dementia, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, or stroke.
• Live with obesity
• Are pregnant
• Have Down syndrome

Evidence shows that the COVID-19 vaccines used in Canada are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

More information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available at the following link: COVID-19 Vaccine.

You can also help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by staying home when sick, washing your hands often for at least 15 seconds or using hand sanitizer, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask if visiting a healthcare facility.

RSV usually causes a mild illness. However, some groups, including infants and older adults, are at increased risk for severe outcomes.

RSV is, for example, the most common cause of bronchiolitis, a common chest infection that affects infants and toddlers.

Signs and symptoms of RSV range from mild cold symptoms to severe respiratory distress and can include:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Wheezing
• Sore throat
• Headache
• General feeling of being sick

Symptoms generally begin four to six days after exposure to the virus. An ill person can spread the virus for up to eight days and sometimes longer. It can take a week or two to feel better.

You can use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain. However, do not give ibuprofen to babies under six months of age without speaking with a healthcare provider. Never give aspirin to children.

Offer plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. If your baby is having trouble drinking, try to clear nasal congestion with a bulb syringe or saline nose drops.

Consult your healthcare provider before giving your child non-prescription cold medicines.

You should go to an emergency department if you or someone you’re caring for has trouble breathing, pale skin, lips that look white or blue, asthma or wheezing, or has any of the following symptoms:

• Fever and is very sleepy or difficult to wake
• Repeated vomiting and unable to keep any liquids down for eight hours or more
• Vomiting or diarrhea containing a large amount of blood
• Signs of dehydration with dry mouth or no urination for eight hours or more
• Chest pain/palpitations in older adults

Certain health conditions may place you at a higher risk, such as heart or lung disease.

Immunization is available to eligible individuals to help prevent serious outcomes, such as hospitalization, caused by the virus.

Ontario’s RSV prevention program covers the cost of RSV immunization for:

• Adults aged 75 and older
• Adults aged 60–74 who meet specific high-risk criteria
• Infants born on April 1 or after, and less than 8 months old
• Children up to 24 months who are at increased risk
• Pregnant people

Visit Respiratory Syncytial Virus for more information.

You can also help to prevent the spread of RSV by staying home when sick, washing your hands often for at least 15 seconds or using hand sanitizer, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask if visiting a healthcare facility.