Your Guide to Respiratory Illnesses

Respiratory illnesses such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are responsible for thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year. Doylestown Health Internal Care Physician Jayne Koellhoffer, MD, PhD says it’s important to take respiratory illnesses seriously.

“Flu and COVID-19 are not benign illnesses. Thousands of people die from them each year. Although both illnesses are dangerous, COVID-19 is responsible for more deaths and studies suggest that nearly 5% of those who have COVID-19 will develop long COVID. Long COVID is a chronic health condition that can last months or longer. It causes shortness of breath, fatigue and can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease and stroke,” she says.

Flu and COVID-19 Symptoms

Although you can get the flu anytime of the year, it is more common in the fall and winter. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season is generally from October until May, with cases peaking between December and February. Dr. Koellhoffer says that COVID-19 is not considered seasonal, but there are surges of the illness every three to four months.

Flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms, including:

• Cough
• Diarrhea (more common in children)
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath

Because flu and COVID-19 share similar symptoms, Dr. Koellhoffer says testing is the only way to be certain which respiratory illness you have. “I always tell patients that if they have cold symptoms, do an at-home COVID-19 test. If the test is negative and they have a high fever, they should come in and we will do a flu test. We have treatments that will help reduce symptoms of flu and COVID-19 and reduce the likelihood of developing long COVID,” she says.

Treatment for Flu and COVID-19

Many people are able to manage flu and COVID-19 symptoms at home. Some ways to control your symptoms at home include:

• Rest and limited physical activity
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, juice, soups or drinks containing electrolytes. Avoid drinks that are high in sugar and/or have caffeine.
• Take over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil).

Some people may be at a higher risk for developing severe symptoms related to flu and COVID-19. Risk factors include:

• Asthma, COPD or other lung diseases
• Babies under a year old (Flu only)
• Being over the age of 65
• Pregnancy or recently giving birth
• Smoking

If you have risk factors for developing severe flu or COVID-19 symptoms, Dr. Koelhoffer says it’s important to test for both COVID-19 and flu and start a treatment as soon as possible.

Preventing Respiratory Illnesses

Flu and COVID-19 are spread through respiratory droplets released while talking, sneezing or coughing. People near an infected individual can get flu or COVID-19 by inhaling the droplets or touching an infected surface and then touching their eyes or mouth.

Dr. Koellhoffer suggests everyone over the age of six months receive a flu shot every year. Flu vaccines are specifically formulated each year to target different strains of the virus. There are several different flu vaccines available. She suggests talking to your healthcare provider about which one is right for you.

Because COVID-19 is constantly evolving, Dr. Koellhoffer also recommends yearly COVID-19 vaccines. There are several COVID-19 vaccine options available and your healthcare provider can help you determine which one is right for you.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available at Doylestown Health Primary Care and Doylestown Health Urgent Care. Dr. Koellhoffer says it’s best to receive your flu and COVID-19 before the end of October. “It can take about two weeks for antibodies to develop in your body to provide protection against flu and COVID-19. It’s better to get your vaccine early before it begins to spread,” she says.

Other ways you can protect yourself from flu and COVID-19 include:

• Avoiding people who are sick
• Covering your mouth when you cough
• Washing your hands frequently

“If you suspect you have flu or COVID-19, it’s important to stay home if you are ill. You can prevent spreading flu and COVID-19 throughout the community,” says Dr. Koellhoffer.

Meet the Provider

Jayne Koellhoffer, MD, PhD, is an internal medicine provider with Doylestown Health. She provides a wide range of primary care services to adults at Doylestown Health Internal Medicine.