Skip Navigation Linksfeelingsick

Top Menu

Respiratory Viruses

Person blowing their nose.

I'm feeling sick

Respiratory infections such as flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cause similar symptoms. People often feel some or all the following symptoms:  

  • Fever 
  • Chills 
  • Cough 
  • Sore throat 
  • Runny nose 
  • Headaches 
  • Body aches 
  • Tiredness 
Some people may feel no symptoms at all.

Children and Infants: 

  • Children: Children may be more likely to experience vomiting and diarrhea than adults.   
  • Infants: Infants may show signs of poor feeding, irritability, or difficulty breathing.  ​

It is often difficult to identify the type of respiratory infection based on symptoms alone. Only testing for these viruses can confirm the diagnosis. If you or a loved one have symptoms, ask your healthcare provider today about whether testing is recommended and testing options.  ​

When you can go back to normal activities 

If you're feeling sick, stay home and away from others, including people you live with who are not sick.​ You can resume your usual activities when both of the following are true:  

  • Your symptoms are improving overall. 
  • You’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medications. 

Over the next five days, take extra precautions as you may still be contagious:  

  • Wearing a well-fitting mask. 
  • Practicing physical distancing. 
  • Taking steps for cleaner air. 
  • Distance from others who may be at high risk for severe illness. ​

Testing 

If you have symptoms, and you are at higher risk for severe disease or exposing someone else at higher risk, you should get tested. Early testing leads to early treatment and less severe disease or quicker recovery. 

How to get tested    

  • Contact your doctor, urgent care center, or insurance provider for an appointment for lab testing. 
  • You can ask if video or phone appointments are possible. 
  • You can use an at-home test to test for COVID-19 and flu. 
    • C​heck the test kit to see if the expiration dates have been extended on the FDA's At-Home COVID-19 Test page​. If you must, you can use expired tests until you can get new ones, as long as the control line is working. See your test instructions for details about the control line. 
  • There are currently no at-home tests for RSV infection.
  • For RSV, infants and older adults are at higher risk. If you are at higher risk and test negative for flu or COVID-19, talk to a healthcare provider for more information.

Treatment

Antiviral medications can stop the virus from multiplying in your body. Most medications are oral pills that can be taken at home. You may be eligible for antiviral treatment if you test positive for flu or COVID-19. Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and flu are available with a prescription. 
  • If you have a higher risk of serious illness, early treatment for COVID-19 and influenza can prevent serious illness. 
  • Paxlovid is an oral antiviral for COVID-19. It may be provided by a pharmacist without a prescription.
  • Tamiflu is a pill that treats the flu. It works best when people start taking it within two days after they feel sick.
  • COVID-19 and flu medications are not a replacement for vaccines.  

Patient access programs  

The Department of Health and Human Services Test to Treat Locator​ can help find pharmacies, clinics, and other locations where you can pick up your prescription. There are many options for medication coverage. If you don’t have health care insurance, there are additional program to support medication costs.

COVID-19:  

Flu: 

Resources

Page Last Updated :