Respiratory Illnesses: Symptoms, Treatment, and Vaccines

Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Common respiratory illness symptoms include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Runny nose
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle pain or body aches

Mild symptoms: Stay home

Mild symptoms include a temperature below 100 °F (below 102.4 °F for children older than three months), aches and pains, or a mild cough. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and monitor your symptoms. Hopefully, you will start to feel better in a few days.

Moderate symptoms: Call your Primary Care Office

If you have moderate symptoms like a fever higher than 100.4 °F, significant coughing, or shortness of breath, contact your primary care provider’s office.

For children ages 3 months and older who are not immunocompromised, a high fever is greater than 102.4 °F. If your child has a fever, significant coughing, or shortness of breath, you also should call their primary care provider’s office. You should also call if they are sleepier, if they have not gone to the bathroom in more than 10 hours (if 3 years or older) or more than 8 hours (if younger than 3 years old). Your child’s doctor can recommend next steps.

If you do not have a primary care provider or you have symptoms that need immediate attention, try our urgent care options:

• Schedule an appointment with Mass General Brigham 24/7 Virtual Care. Mass General Brigham offers convenient, high-quality virtual urgent care services to those located in Massachusetts or New Hampshire. If you have concerns about COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, you can virtually and securely connect to a provider. Please note: Virtual Urgent Care is only for patients ages 3 and older.
• Visit one of our in-person Express Care centers.

Severe Symptoms: Seek Emergency Care

Go to the Emergency Department if you have severe symptoms, such as:

• Severe trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or dizziness
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

If you cannot get to the emergency department, call 9-1-1.

• COVID-19: If you test positive for COVID-19, treatment options are available. Learn more about these options on the CDC website.
• Flu: Treatment options for flu are available, especially for those who are at higher risk for severe flu. See the CDC website for more information.
• RSV: There are no RSV-specific treatments available.
• Common cold: There are no specific treatments available for common colds.

Vaccines and prevention

You should follow the recommendations below.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your shirt sleeve, not your hands
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices
• If a child is in the highest of risk groups for flu, RSVor COVID, consider limiting time spent in crowded or shared spaces, such as day care, grocery stores, or indoor shopping areas
• Encourage breastfeeding or breastmilk, as it will provide infants with maternal antibodies

These prevention tips will help prevent any respiratory illness and are good practice for the entire family.

Flu vaccine

• Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot each fall

COVID-19 vaccine

Adults

• Adults ages 65 and older should receive 2 doses 6 months apart
• Adults 19 to 64 years with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 or those who have household contacts at higher risk should receive one dose
• Healthy adults 19 to 64 years may receive one dose

Children

• All children 6 to 23 months should receive COVID-19 vaccination
• Children 2 to 18 years with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 or those who have household contacts at higher risk should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• Healthy children 2 to 18 years who have never been vaccinated should receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• Healthy children 2 to 18 years who do not fall into the categories above may receive one dose of COVID-19 vaccination
• Children ages 6 months to 4 years may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date

RSV vaccine

• Adults ages 75 and older should get an RSV vaccine
• Adults age 50 or older with certain medical conditions may especially benefit from getting an RSV vaccine. This includes people with heart and lung disease or weakened immune systems. Please see the CDC website for a complete list of conditions.
• Recommended for those who are pregnantin the 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy during the months of September to January. Note that only Abrysvo is approved for pregnancy. People who had the RSV vaccine with a prior pregnancy should not get another RSV vaccine during future pregnancies. Their newborn should get Nirsevimab if born during RSV season.
• Thus far, RSV is a one-time vaccine. Once you have had it, you do not need it again.

Most retail pharmacies offer flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines.

Many primary care and specialty offices across Mass General Brigham will also offer COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines at regularly scheduled office visits.