Respiratory Infections Spike Between Seasons: Experts on Getting Ahead of Them

A sharp drop in temperature weakens the local defenses of the respiratory mucosa. The cilia clear pathogens less efficiently, making it easier for viruses to take hold. Add in more time spent indoors, less ventilation and more crowding, and pathogens spread more readily in enclosed spaces.

Different pathogens produce overlapping symptoms, so it is hard to tell them apart on your own. Influenza usually comes on quickly with high fever and pronounced body aches; mycoplasma pneumonia often presents with a persistent dry cough; the common cold is dominated by a stuffy or runny nose and sore throat, with milder systemic symptoms.

Washing your hands often, wearing a mask and airing out rooms are the three most cost-effective measures. After touching public surfaces, avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose; wear a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated places; open windows two to three times a day for at least half an hour each time.

Vaccination is an effective way to prevent severe illness. A flu shot is recommended once a year, with priority for high-risk groups such as older adults, people with chronic conditions, pregnant women and healthcare workers. A regular routine, a balanced diet and moderate exercise help maintain immune health.

A high fever lasting more than three days, rapid breathing or chest tightness, listlessness or altered consciousness, an infant refusing food or passing little urine, or worsening symptoms in someone with a chronic illness are all signals to seek care quickly rather than tough it out.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Whether and which medication to use should be decided by a doctor. Stockpiling drugs or combining several cold remedies that share the same ingredients can actually cause an overdose.