Pumpkin patches and crisp, clear nights. Sniffling and sneezing, and no pollen in sight? That’s right, it’s autumn.
“Fall and winter are the respiratory virus seasons, in general,” says Dr. John Dunn, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Seattle Capitol Hill Medical Center.
And it’s not just cold and flu, either. “Dozens of viruses cause respiratory illnesses,” Dunn says. “Some of them cause a simple three-day cold with nasal congestion, and others cause awful illness that can knock you into bed for a week or two or more.”
Whatever the cause, here’s how to cope with the incoming respiratory virus season, why it happens every year, and more.
Is there really a season for colds?
Although we associate fall and winter with cold and flu season, the truth is that viruses circulate year-round worldwide. April through July are colder months in the Southern Hemisphere, and colds may be picked up easily, but once they arrive in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer timing here may prevent illnesses from spreading. When fall arrives, things change.
“Once children are back in school and in the same building, the opportunity to pass infectious diseases increases exponentially. Kids are in far closer contact with far more people for a larger percentage of the day versus in summertime months,” says Dunn.
Washington State operates a respiratory illness dashboard that includes the well-known COVID-19 and Influenza, as well as the snot-producing Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). It also tracks “acute respiratory illness,” a catch-all term for illnesses that don’t test positive for the other three.
Preventing the spread of illness in your home
Healthy habits can help families reduce the spread of respiratory viruses during cold and flu season.
Virus prevention relies on both old-fashioned common sense and modern medicine’s best defenses.
Wash hands and avoid touching your face
Much like your doctor in the exam room, handwashing frequency can help prevent the spread of germs, whether entering or exiting a room. In general, try not to touch your face, including rubbing your eyes, biting your nails or picking your nose.
“If you can get into the habit of taking precautions, you can reduce the likelihood of spreading and catching a virus,” Dunn says.
Understand flu, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations
For some respiratory viruses, including the flu and COVID-19, the vaccine only lasts until the virus mutates again. In other words, last year’s shots won’t protect against this year’s strains. For both, shots may not prevent infection, but you’re less likely to develop a severe case of illness.
For some other respiratory viruses, the vaccines are most beneficial for specific populations. RSV is a commonly circulating virus that can be dangerous for infants and older adults. “By your child’s second birthday, there’s a 99% chance that they’ve had it,” he says. It can feel like a chest- and sinus-related “miserable experience,” much like influenza. For very young children, RSV can lead to hospitalization and more serious complications, while older adults are at risk due to weakened immune systems.
“One of the easiest things to do to protect yourself is get vaccinated. Vaccines typically have few side effects, and they’re generally minor to nothing compared to the symptoms if you get the virus,” Dunn says.
Get your seasonal vaccines
Medical organizations recommend getting the annual required vaccinations in September and October to help prevent the spread of illness. Some people hold off, worried that the vaccine won’t continue to provide benefits during the flu’s peak season, January through March.
“Even if you get the vaccine in early fall, the vaccine’s effectiveness lasts for half a year, and you’ll still be protected in February and March,” says Dunn.
If allowed multiple shots at once, take the opportunity; otherwise, “life tends to get in the way one way or another,” he says. “My daughter, as a little kid, used to say, ‘Might as well have one bad day, rather than more bad days over a couple of days or weeks.’”
“Getting vaccinated early means that by the time the viruses really start circulating in winter, much of the community is protected,” Dunn says. “Vaccines are easy and safe.” Most private and government health plans typically cover the cost of vaccination, and free vaccination clinics are held in many communities every fall.
Protect yourself and others when you’re sick
Sneeze or cough into your elbow, and wash your hands after touching your nose, mouth or used tissues. Stay home and recover if you can.
Getting vaccinated and taking precautions doesn’t just help you, it helps others in your community too, whether a family member or people you see weekly at the grocery store, school or community center.
“Anytime you start to develop symptoms after you or your family were exposed, try to prevent it from spreading further,” says Dunn. A little precaution can go a long way and help everyone stay healthier to enjoy the season.
