A respiratory virus is an illness that infects the respiratory (breathing) system. There are a wide variety of different respiratory viruses, the most well-known being influenza (commonly known as ‘flu’).

Respiratory viruses can affect any age group. The symptoms vary in severity from person to person and can be very mild or quite severe. The viruses may make other illnesses worse, such as asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Those most at risk of complications are young children, the elderly, or people with weaker immune systems or other chronic illnesses.

Respiratory viruses include: 
•    Influenza A and B
•    Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
•    Para influenza viruses
•    Adenoviruses 
•    Human metapneumovirus
•    Coronaviruses
•    Rhinoviruses
•    COVID-19

All these viruses can cause symptoms of a high temperature, a cough, and a runny nose.

The most common symptoms of flu include:
•    Shivering
•    Headache
•    Sore throat
•    Muscle aches
•    A dry cough
•    A high temperature

Symptoms typically last for up to 5 days in adults and 7 days in children and can make you feel so unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better.

Cold or flu?

These respiratory viruses can cause a range of symptoms. Some viruses usually cause what we often call the ’common cold’.
•    Runny nose
•    Sneezing
•    Watery eyes
•    Sore throat 
•    Raised temperature

However, they can also cause ‘influenza-like illness’ which can be similar in symptoms and severity to flu itself.

How do respiratory viruses spread?

Respiratory viruses spread easily from one person to another. When someone with a virus coughs or sneezes, the virus can travel in droplets or aerosols (tiny secretions) to other people nearby. It can also spread when people touch surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus and then touch their mouth, nose, and eyes. The flu virus can live on surfaces like door handles and telephones for up to 24 hours.
Whether your symptoms are influenza-like illness, COVID-19, or the common cold, please make sure that you:

• Cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough (preferably with a tissue)
• Put used tissues in a bin
• Wash your hands or use alcohol gel regularly, and always after coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated objects or surfaces
• Keep surfaces clean

Treating respiratory viruses at home

If you have flu or another respiratory virus at home, you should:
•    Rest
•    Drink plenty of fluids
•    Take pain relief medication (such as Paracetamol) if you need to

If you have a temperature, stay away from school, work, young children, and the elderly. Most people get better without needing any treatment. Seek medical advice if your symptoms become more severe or last longer than a week.

If you are pregnant or have a chronic or long-standing illness, and you develop symptoms of flu, COVID-19 or another respiratory virus contact your GP for advice.

Treating respiratory viruses in hospital

The same respiratory virus can affect people differently. The only way to know for sure if you have flu or COVID-19 is to do a test. A swab will be taken from your nose or throat, and this will be sent to the lab for testing. If you are a patient in our hospital and we think you may have COVID-19 or flu, we will:

• Take a swab to test for specific respiratory infection and inform you when we have the test results.
• Care for you in a single room to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
• The staff will wear special face masks and other protective clothing when they are in your room. This is to help prevent the spread of infection to others.
• Ask that you wear a face mask if you need to leave the room to go to another department for example X-ray, or when staff are in the same room caring for you (if it does not interfere with your care).
• If you have ‘flu’, we may prescribe you oseltamivir (known as Tamiflu). These treatments work best if you start them in the first two days of having symptoms.

How you can help reduce the spread of respiratory infections

• Make sure you wash your hands regularly
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Dispose of tissues in a bin as soon as possible after use
• Wipe down any shared equipment or surfaces that you may use for example computer keyboards, office phones, toilet flush handle etc.
• Keep rooms well ventilated whenever possible
• Make sure your vaccinations for flu and COVID-19 are up to date if you are eligible to have them
• Stay at home and avoid contact with others if you have a fever or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

Further information

If you have further questions, please discuss them with a member of the ward/department team or ask a member of the team to contact the Infection Prevention and Control Team.