Are You Prepared for Cold and Flu Season?

Ah, autumn. Crisp air, blue skies. Sweaters. Pumpkin-spice everything.

But for health experts (as well as parents of kids in school and daycare) the change of seasons also can mean a rise in cold, flu, and all sorts of nasty, spreading illnesses.

Are we just destined to come down with these passing ailments? Or are there ways to prevent so much seasonal sickness? Let’s break down what might lie in wait for us this cold and flu season, what we can do to avoid getting sick, and reduce symptoms if we do fall ill.

Truly Seasonal or Just Your Imagination?

Some illnesses are truly seasonal—influenza, colds, RSV, for example. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that seasonal influenza viruses typically circulate during the fall and winter—beginning in October and running through May—during what’s known as the flu season.

Adults get an average of two to four colds per year, mostly between September and May, while young children get at least six to eight colds per year, according to the American Lung Association. It all adds up to a lot of doctor visits: Across the U.S., colds account for more visits to the doctor than any other condition.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is another common respiratory virus that infects the lungs, but can also affect the nose and throat. RSV spreads in the fall and winter along with other respiratory viruses, like flu and COVID-19. It usually peaks in December and January.

Most illnesses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and you get virus droplets from a cough or sneeze in your eyes, nose, or mouth, or you have direct contact with someone who is sick. In some cases, you could become ill if you touch a surface that has the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touch your face before washing your hands.

Experts say that illnesses may be more common in colder weather because contaminated respiratory droplets travel more easily in dry air when an ill person coughs or sneezes. And, as it gets colder, people tend to gather indoors. And, of course, students are back in school. It’s just easier for germs to spread around.

 

Prevention

There are other icky infections that tend to spread in winter, too. Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep throat, and stomach bugs like norovirus, a stomach bug that causes diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps.

The best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting your annual flu shot. Updated COVID vaccines are widely available, too. Visit your local pharmacy or speak with your healthcare provider for the latest vaccines.

No matter what’s lurking out there—colds, RSV, COVID, seasonal flu, or norovirus—you can take preventive actions in addition to vaccination that may help reduce the spread of viruses like flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Stay home, for at least 24 hours, until both are true: your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Consider wearing a mask. Masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth to avoid spreading germs.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly.

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

Make an appointment with a healthcare provider if you (or someone you care for):

• has a high fever (any fever in infants younger than 3 months, or a fever between 99-100 degrees Fahrenheit in a child older than 3 months, or a high fever above 102 degrees F in an adult that lasts more than 4 days)
• has difficulty breathing, wheezing or chest pain
• exhibits extreme fatigue or lethargy
• has signs of dehydration, like dark-colored urine, confusion or dizziness.