6 Common Illnesses and How to Avoid Spreading Them

When you're feeling under the weather, understanding the nature of your illness and how to minimize its spread helps protect your loved ones and your community. Our urgent care team at Memorial Springs ER is here to help. Here are six common respiratory illnesses and tips to prevent them from spreading.

1. The common cold

The common cold spreads through respiratory droplets: tiny drops of liquid that come from your nose or mouth when you cough, sneeze, or talk. It can also spread if you touch contaminated surfaces and then touch your face.

Symptoms of the common cold:

Runny nose
Sneezing
Coughing
Sore throat
Mild fatigue

The common cold is caused by various viruses, most often rhinoviruses. It usually lasts 7-10 days, but some symptoms can linger longer.

How to avoid spreading the common cold

Wash your hands frequently, avoid close contact with others when you’re sick, and disinfect commonly touched surfaces regularly. Cough or sneeze into your elbow and use disposable tissues.

2. The flu

The flu, or influenza, spreads much like the common cold: through droplets in the air or on surfaces.

Symptoms of the flu:

Body aches
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Coughing
Congestion

The flu typically lasts up to seven days, but it’s not uncommon to experience fatigue for several weeks after your other symptoms resolve.

How to avoid spreading the flu

Get an annual flu vaccine. Wash your hands regularly and avoid close contact with people who have the flu. If you're sick, stay home to prevent infecting others.

3. COVID-19

Like the common cold and the flu, COVID-19 spreads through airborne respiratory droplets, close contact with people who are sick, and touching contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Loss of taste and/or smell
Fatigue

Mild cases of COVID-19 usually clear up in one to two weeks, but severe COVID-19 can lead to life-threatening complications like respiratory failure, organ damage, and prolonged hospitalization. Long COVID can lead to persistent symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or shortness of breath that continue for weeks or months after the acute infection has resolved.

How to avoid spreading COVID-19

Stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 vaccinations. Wash your hands regularly, and consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces for added protection. If you test positive or experience symptoms, stay home and isolate as much as possible.

4. Strep throat

Strep throat is caused by Streptococcus bacteria, and it spreads through respiratory droplets or direct contact with the saliva of someone who has strep throat.

Symptoms of strep throat:

Severe sore throat
Difficulty swallowing
Fever
Swollen lymph nodes

Symptoms of strep throat can last about three to five days. Because it’s a bacterial infection, antibiotics are effective to help you start feeling better faster.

How to avoid spreading strep throat

Wash your hands frequently and avoid sharing personal items like cups and utensils with others. Stay home if you have strep throat until you've been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours.

5. Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis can be caused by a virus or bacterium, and it often follows a cold or the flu. It’s contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets.

Symptoms of bronchitis:

Persistent cough
Mucus production
Fatigue
Chest discomfort

If you have bronchitis, the bronchial tubes in your lungs get inflamed. This inflammation causes a persistent cough and mucus build-up that can last for weeks.

How to avoid spreading bronchitis

Practice good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands frequently, especially if you’re sick. Seek medical care when you need it, and keep your immune system strong with proper rest and nutrition.

6. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that results from bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. It can be contagious, but not everyone exposed to the pathogens will get pneumonia. People who are at the highest risk of developing pneumonia are young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of pneumonia:

High fever
Chills
Cough with phlegm
Shortness of breath
Chest pain

Pneumonia requires professional medical care. With appropriate treatment, bacterial pneumonia may improve within 1-2 weeks, but viral pneumonia might take longer to resolve.

How to avoid spreading pneumonia

Stay vaccinated against the flu. Maintain good hygiene by washing your hands regularly and staying home when you’re sick. Seek prompt medical care for respiratory symptoms to prevent complications.

If you’re experiencing severe or persistent respiratory symptoms, don’t wait it out. We offer fast and effective urgent care for acute illnesses, so you can get a diagnosis and treatment plan that fits your needs.

Your health is our priority, and we’re here to help you feel better faster. Book an appointment online, or call our clinic in Spring, Texas, at 346-683-2057.