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COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are common respiratory diseases with cold-like symptoms. They usually spread in the fall and winter, although you can get sick with a respiratory virus any time of year. Most people will recover on their own without complications, but some people are at higher risk of getting very sick.

The best defense against severe illness is to get the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Some people may also be eligible for RSV immunizations. For more information about vaccinations for you and your family, please see Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Vaccine Page.

Effective treatments are available for COVID-19 and flu. Other preventive actions to limit the spread of respiratory virus infections include:
Stay home if sick
Improve indoor ventilation
Consider wearing a high quality mask indoors, especially if you are sick or in crowded areas
Cover your cough
Avoid close contact with sick people
Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
Clean and disinfect surfaces in home to remove/kill germs

Immunizations:

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent severe illness. Safe, updated immunizations are available for all three respiratory virus diseases. Click here to find a vaccination location near you.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Everyone 6 months and older should get a 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax).

  • Everyone 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Children 6 month to 4 years need at least 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine. They may require additional vaccine doses depending on whether or not they have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • People who are immunocompromised may receive additional updated COVID-19 vaccine doses.

For more information, see COVID-19 Vaccine and Stay Up to Date with Vaccines.

Flu vaccines are safe and effective in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Vaccination is especially important for those at higher risk of getting very sick with the flu, such as older adults, pregnant persons, young children and those with certain chronic conditions.

There are many flu vaccine options, and for people 65 years and older and some organ transplant recipients, a higher-dose flu vaccine is preferred.

Children less than 9 years of age may need more than 1 dose of flu vaccine depending on the number of doses they have received in the past. See Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine as well as LAC DPH Flu page for more details.

RSV immunizations protect people at highest risk of getting very sick from RSV, including infants, certain high-risk toddlers, and adults 60 years and older.

  • For adults:
    • Adults 75 years and older should receive a single dose of RSV vaccine to protect them from severe RSV disease.
    • Adults 60 – 74 years with certain medical conditions or who reside in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, should also receive a single dose of RSV vaccine.
    • Arexvy (GSK), Abrysvo (Pfizer), and MRESVIA (Moderna) vaccines are approved for use in adults 60 years and older. The vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines.
  • For children:
    • Pregnant persons can get an RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) during RSV season (September through January) during 32-36 weeks gestation to protect their newborn infant.
    • Infants younger than 8 months are eligible to get nirsevimab (Beyfortus) from October through March.
    • Children between 8 and 19 months at higher risk for severe disease who are entering their second RSV season should receive an RSV antibody immunization.

See RSV Prevention and RSV Vaccine Facts for more information.

Symptoms:

COVID-19, flu, and RSV are some of the diseases caused by viruses that have very similar symptoms. Illness can be mild to severe, and some people may have no symptoms. Those who do get sick may experience any of the following:

Fever/chills

Cough

Sore throat

Runny nose or stuffy nose

Difficulty Breathing

Body aches

Other symptoms are possible with each of these infections. RSV is more likely to cause bronchiolitis (inflammation of small airways in the lungs) in children than other viruses. Although certain symptoms can be more common with one virus than another, it is hard to tell which infection someone has based on symptoms alone.

Some people may experience symptoms for weeks, which could be long COVID-19 or long flu.

Anyone who has difficulty breathing or symptoms that worsen should seek immediate medical care.

For more information on disease-specific symptoms, see COVID-19, flu, RSV.

What to do if sick:

Stay home and away from others until you have been fever-free without the use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours, and other symptoms are improving.
Wear a well-fitting mask in shared spaces and around others.

Get tested for COVID-19. If you are high risk for getting very sick, talk to your provider about testing for other respiratory viruses.

Note: People who live in LA County who are age 65+ or unable to leave home can request two free tests. The tests are shipped within 5 business days.

If you test positive, follow COVID-19 Community Guidelines. Regardless of your test results, you should stay home until symptoms improve, wear a mask around others, and talk to your doctor about treatment options.

Treatment is available for COVID-19 and influenza! Talk to your healthcare provider about possible treatment or call 2-1-1 to find a nearby provider, especially if your symptoms are not getting better after several days or if you have a high risk health condition. Know when to seek emergency medical care.
Wash hands frequently with warm water, soap, and scrub for 20 seconds.
Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
Tell employer you are sick and follow workplace guidance. Consider forming a Public Health Council at your workplace to facilitate better communication with your workplace.

Reducing Risk of Respiratory Illness:

There are certain places where respiratory viruses spread more easily:

  • Closed spaces with poor air flow
  • Crowded places
  • Close contact settings especially where people close by are talking, singing, coughing, shouting, sneezing, or breathing heavily

To protect yourself and others from respiratory illness, follow these best practices:

Everyone 6 months and older should get the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
Stay home when sick. If you have any symptoms of respiratory illness, stay away from others until you feel better.
Test for COVID-19 if:
  • You are sick with cough, cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms, OR
  • Have been exposed, especially if you or someone you have contact with are at high risk for severe disease.
    • Note: People who live in LA County who are age 65+ or unable to leave home can request two free tests. The tests are shipped within 5 business days.
  • Consider testing for flu in addition to COVID-19 if you are at high risk of severe illness.
If you test positive for COVID-19, follow Community Guidelines.
Ask about medicine to treat flu or COVID-19 as soon as you start feeling sick. Treatment can prevent you from getting very sick but should be started soon after your symptoms begin. Talk to your doctor or call the Public Health Call Center at 1-833-540-0473.
Wear a mask that fits and filters well. You should mask when you feel sick, have been exposed to someone who is sick, or when community risk is higher.
Improve ventilation (air flow). Open windows and doors, use fans and portable air cleaners, run heating and air, and upgrade filters. When possible, choose outdoor spaces for group activities. For more information, visit the CDC’s webpage Improving Ventilation in Your Home.
Practice good everyday hygiene, like washing your hands and covering your coughs and sneezes. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs that cause respiratory illnesses and diarrhea.
For more information, visit the CDC's webpage How to Protect Yourself and Others.

when to seek medical care:

For treatments, talk to your healthcare provider. Call 2-1-1 to find a nearby provider if it is not an emergency and you do not have a provider. People with high-risk health conditions should seek medical attention even with mild symptoms.

In general, most minor respiratory virus infections improve with simple steps (getting plenty of rest, drinking enough fluids, eating well). Symptoms such as fever and pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (never give aspirin to children.) Antibiotics do not help with diseases caused by viruses. Antiviral medications are available for certain individuals with flu and COVID-19. These medications should be started soon as symptoms begin. Currently there are no specific antiviral medications for RSV.

If symptoms do not get better after a week, or if your symptoms get worse after starting to improve, talk to a healthcare provider or go to urgent care.

If symptoms get worse and are urgent, seek emergency medical care.

when to seek medical care image

Many adults and some children qualify for treatment if they have symptoms of COVID-19 AND either they test positive for COVID-19 OR a doctor recommends treatment. Medication should be started within 5-7 days of first symptoms. If you don’t have a provider, call the Public Health InfoLine at (833) 540-0473, available 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

when to seek medical care image

Treatment for RSV focuses on relieving symptoms. Fever and pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (never give aspirin to children.) Dehydration can be prevented by drinking enough fluids. Unlike influenza and COVID-19, there aren’t any antiviral medications approved for treating an infection with RSV.

Young children and older individuals are at increased risk of severe disease. In severe cases, the airways that lead to the lungs may become inflamed and cause breathing problems. RSV usually does not cause hospitalization in healthy adults but can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants, older adult and adults with high risk conditions.

when to seek medical care image

Influenza antiviral medications are available for adults and children by prescription . Antiviral medication works best if started within 2 days of first symptoms, but may still be taken later especially if you are high risk or have severe illness. More information on Flu antiviral medication, see CDC website:

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care:

Exhausted

Difficulty
Breathing
Chest Pain

Pressure or
Pain in Chest
Bluish Lips
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin,
lips, or nail beds*
Confused
Confused or
Hard to Wake
or Stay Awake
Sick Person

Other Serious
Symptoms

It is very rare, but some children who have been previously infected with COVID-19 develop a serious COVID complication called Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). If a child has a persistent fever, head or neck pain, stomach pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or chest tightness consult with your medical provider.

Get your child emergency care for any of these MIS-C symptoms: trouble breathing, chest pain, new confusion, inability to wake/stay awake, or pale, gray or blue skin, lips or nails.

Long COVID

Most people recover from COVID-19 within a few days to weeks. However, some people may continue to have symptoms or develop new symptoms weeks or months later, a condition known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions.

Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, or difficulty thinking clearly ("brain fog"). Even people who had mild illness can develop Long COVID.

There is no single test for Long COVID. Health care providers base diagnosis on symptoms and history of infection. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines can lower the risk of developing Long COVID.

For more information, visit: