Protecting yourself and your family from respiratory infections

Respiratory infections affect your breathing and range from common colds to more severe infections such as Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). They can affect anyone in the family and can range from being mild infections which make you feel a bit under the weather to severe life-threatening illnesses. The risk of being very unwell from respiratory infections is higher for younger children, the elderly and anyone who has long term medical conditions such as Asthma or Diabetes.

These infections can occur at any time during the year however they are more common in the winter period from December to March when people tend to spend more time indoors and the infections can spread easily from person to person.

Influenza (flu)

Flu is the name many people use to describe a bad cold or feeling unwell with sneezing, coughing and a raised temperature. But ask anyone who has had proper Influenza, and they will tell you that it is a nasty infection which can make you feel very unwell.

People affected are often so ill that they are unable to work or even to get out of bed. The symptoms include headaches and joint pains as well as being bunged up, coughing and being short of breath. The illness can last for weeks and can also lead to secondary infections such as chest infections and pneumonia.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is probably the respiratory infection we are all most familiar with following the recent pandemic. It usually causes high temperature along with the other symptoms of coughing, sneezing and feeling generally unwell. It too can lead to other infections especially in those at highest risk.

RSV

RSV is another respiratory infection which is also like Influenza and COVID-19 in the symptoms it causes. Although not as well-known as the others it is more widespread than people realise. Those at greatest risk from RSV infections are young children and people over age 75. Babies and young children can be severely affected with chest and ear infections and often need to be admitted to hospital.

Protecting yourself and your family

It is usually not possible to say which virus is causing respiratory symptoms without testing, but testing is usually not necessary because treatment is based on symptoms. Testing (including for COVID-19) is now only done during outbreaks or for severely ill patients in hospital.

There are a few things that you can do to protect yourself and your family from respiratory infections. These include:

1. Getting vaccinated: vaccinations against flu, COVID-19 and RSV are available for free to those at highest risk from respiratory infections
2. Ventilation: allowing fresh air into your home or workplace even just for 10 minutes every hour or so can help disperse the bugs that cause these infections and stop them from spreading.
3. Good hygiene: regular hand washing, covering you face with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and keeping areas clean can also help to reduce the risk of infections spreading.
4. Face masks: As we saw during the pandemic face masks and face coverings can help to prevent the spread of germs but remember to change the masks regularly and dispose of them correctly.

More information on respiratory infections and on Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations can be found in the links below.

• About COVID-19 vaccination, safety and side effects
• Flu vaccine
• RSV vaccine