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Learn about respiratory infections  |  Prevention

 What is your reason to protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory infections?
We all have a reason to stay protected - whether it's staying active, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying your daily routine. 

As we age, our immune systems do too, increasing the risk of serious illness from respiratory infectious diseases such as pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).1 And with so many moments to look forward to, it’s important to know your risk.

Continue reading to learn more about prevention options, and what each disease looks like.  
Flu (influenza)What is it and what are the symptoms?
Flu (influenza) is a common infectious viral illness. You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter. This is why it’s also known as seasonal flu.4
 
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:3
  • A sudden high temperature. 
  • An aching body.
  • Feeling tired or exhausted. 
  • A dry cough.
  • A sore throat .
  • A headache.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Diarrhoea or tummy pain.
  • Feeling sick and being sick.
 
Telling the difference between cold and flu 
Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.5 

Cold symptoms:5 
  • Appear gradually.
  • Affects mainly your nose and throat. 
  • Makes you feel unwell, but you may be OK to carry on as normal (for example, go to work).

Flu symptoms:5 
  • Appear quickly within a few hours. 
  • Affect more than just your nose and throat. 
  • Makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal. 
What can I do to reduce the risk of flu?
Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first 5 days.

Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading flu:
  • Wash your hands often with warm water and soap.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (if you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow, not into your hand).
  • Bin used tissues as quickly as possible.
  • Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.
  • Vaccination can help to protect some people who are most at risk of flu and its complications.4
What treatments are available?  
If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly:
  • Rest and sleep.
  • Keep warm.
  • Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains.
  • Give paracetamol or ibuprofen to your child if they're distressed or uncomfortable – check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or GP if you're not sure.
  • Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear) 
Discuss treatment options with your GP or pharmacist.
Where can I learn more?
The links below will provide further information about flu, alongside the advice around preventative measures generally, and those available in your local area. Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist about what is available in your local area and what is most appropriate for you.

England: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/   
Scotland: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/flu/  
Wales: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/SelfAssessments/symptomcheckers/default.aspx?ScName=ColdandFluNew&SCTId=174&locale=en&term=A 
Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/flu 
PneumoniaWhat is it and what are the symptoms?
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. Most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks, but babies, older people, and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of getting seriously ill and may need treatment in hospital.6
  • Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria or viruses.7
  • Bacterial pneumonia is most commonly caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium, but there are other bacteria that can cause pneumonia. It usually happens when the body is weakened, for example by illness, being elderly, or lowered immunity, but it can happen to anyone. The germs that cause bacterial pneumonia can be passed on from person to person.7
  • Viral pneumonia is caused by viruses like influenza (the flu virus) and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). RSV is most often the cause of viral pneumonia in children. COVID-19 pneumonia is a form of viral pneumonia that happens as a complication of COVID-19. The germs that cause viral pneumonia can be passed on from person to person.7

Symptoms of pneumonia  
Symptoms of pneumonia can start suddenly or gradually over a few days. They include:6
  • A cough – you may cough up yellow or green mucus (phlegm).
  • Shortness of breath.
  • A high temperature.
  • Chest pain.
  • An aching body.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Making wheezing noises when you breathe – babies may also make grunting noises.
  • Feeling confused – this is common in older people.
What can I do to reduce the risk of pneumonia?Pneumonia is normally caused by an infection in the lungs. This is caused by bacteria, viruses and in rare cases, fungi.8

Protecting yourself 

Lifestyle9
The following lifestyle habits can increase your risk of developing pneumonia: 
  • Smoking.
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • Intravenous drug abuse.
Smoking damages your lungs, which means they become infected more easily. If you smoke, the best thing you can do to prevent pneumonia is to quit smoking. 

Good hygiene9
You can help to stop germs spreading to other people by practising good hygiene. For example: 
  • When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue to catch the germs.
  • Throw used tissues away immediately, in a bin or toilet – germs can live for several hours after they leave your nose or mouth.
  • Wash your hands regularly, to avoid transferring germs to other people or objects
     
Vaccinations9
To help protect against more common infections causing pneumonia, people in higher risk groups should be vaccinated.

 
Who’s most at risk of pneumonia?8
Pneumonia can affect people of any age. It’s more common – and can be more serious – in certain groups of people. People in these risk groups are more likely to need hospital treatment. 

The groups with an increased risk of developing pneumonia are: 
  • Babies and very young children.
  • Elderly people.
  • People who smoke.
  • People with other health conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or a heart, kidney or liver condition.
  • People with a weakened immune system.
What treatments are available?  Mild pneumonia can usually be treated at home. 

Pneumonia isn’t usually passed from one person to another. So it’s safe to be around others, including family members. But people with a weakened immune system should avoid close contact with a person with pneumonia until they start to get better.8

You'll usually be given antibiotics to treat pneumonia. Most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks.6

Some people are more at risk of becoming seriously ill. You may need to go to hospital for treatment if:6
  • You're over 65.
  • You have cardiovascular disease or a long-term lung condition.
  • Your baby or young child has pneumonia.
  • You're very unwell.
In hospital you'll usually be given fluids and antibiotics to treat the infection. You may also be given oxygen to help you breathe.6

You may be sent for an X-ray of your chest and blood tests to check for other conditions.6Where can I learn more?The links below will provide further information about pneumonia, alongside the advice around preventative measures generally, and those available in your local area. Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist about what is available in your local area and what is most appropriate for you.

England: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/  
Scotland: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/lungs-and-airways/pneumonia/  
Wales: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/n/article/niwmonia/  
Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/pneumoniaRespiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)What is it and what are the symptoms?RSV is a common, potentially dangerous and highly contagious virus that can affect the airways and lungs of an infected individual. In many cases, RSV infection is relatively mild, and people will recover from infection on their own. However, sometimes RSV infection can progress to the lower respiratory tract – the airways and lungs – where it can cause more severe symptoms and illness.10

RSV can cause serious illness in some, with babies and older adults being at higher risk, particularly:11
  • Babies under 6 months old.
  • Children born prematurely.
  • Older adults.
  • Babies, children and older adults with a weakened immune system or long-term lung or heart condition.

Symptoms of an RSV infection usually start within a few days of getting infected.12 Most people only get cold-like symptoms, such as:12
  • A runny or blocked nose.
  • A cough.
  • Sneezing.
  • Tiredness.
  • A high temperature – signs include your back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering (chills).
Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual.12

If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis) it may also cause:12
  • A cough that gets worse.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Faster breathing or long gaps between breaths.
  • Difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite.
  • Noisy breathing (wheezing).
  • Confusion (in older adults).
What can I do to reduce the risk of RSV?Similar to other viruses such as colds and flu, you can help stop the spread of RSV through good hygiene practices.11
  • RSV spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Individuals can also become infected by touching objects that the virus has landed on, such as tables or cot rails.11
  • RSV can survive on surfaces for extended periods of time, including furniture (7 hours), skin (30 minutes), fabrics (2 hours) and gloves (5 hours).11
  • People infected with RSV are often contagious for 3-8 days, with some continuing to be contagious for weeks.11
  • Everyone can help to stop the spread of RSV by:11
    • Washing their hands often.
    • Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
    • Trying to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth if their hands are not clean.
    • Covering coughs and sneezes, ideally with a disposable tissue, otherwise into the bend of their elbow.
  • Even when taking measures to help stop the spread of RSV, it can be difficult to avoid RSV infection.11
 Speak to your GP practice, health team or maternity service about prevention options.11What treatments are available?  There is no specific treatment for RSV, and it often gets better on its own within a week or two. You can usually look after yourself or your child at home. Children and adults who get a more serious infection may need to be treated in hospital. Treatment in hospital may include being given fluids to avoid dehydration or oxygen to help you breathe.11
 
Healthcare providers recommend using treatments you’d typically use for a cold. For example, you might:10 
  • Use over-the-counter (OTC) medications (like paracetamol or ibuprofen) to bring down a fever - always check the leaflet to make sure it's suitable.11
  • Try using saline nose drops to relieve congestion if you or your child’s nose is blocked.10
  • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.11 
The goal is to manage symptoms while the infection runs its course.11 Where can I learn more?The links below will provide further information about RSV, alongside the advice around preventative measures generally, and those available in your local area. Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist about what is available in your local area and what is most appropriate for you.

England: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/  
Scotland: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/  
Wales: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/livewell/vaccinations/rsv/  
Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/respiratory-infections-including-covid-19  

Learn more about RSV at www.BeRSVAware.co.uk  COVID-19What is it and what are the symptoms?COVID-19 is a disease caused by an infection from a virus called SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to the coronavirus family. You can get COVID-19 through close proximity, sharing poorly ventilated areas with someone who has the virus through droplets in the air, and from touching surfaces contaminated by the virus.13
 
COVID-19 is a contagious infection that can affect anyone, of any age, at any time.13  

COVID-19 is still a threat especially among people with certain risk factors who may be at highest risk for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.13 

Symptoms 
Symptoms may include:14  
  • Fever.
  • Sore throat.
  • Diarrhoea.
  • Loss of taste or smell.
  • Tiredness. 
  • Aches and pains.
  • Headaches.
  • Cough.
  • Red, irritated eyes.
  • Skin rash, discolouration of fingers and toes.  

Serious symptoms may include:14 
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
  • Loss of speed, or mobility, confusion.
  • Chest pain  
What can I do to reduce the risk of COVID-19?Taking preventative measures can help protect against COVID-19 and its potentially serious consequences.15
  • Keeping hands clean – washing hands often with soap or using sanitiser can kill germs, including COVID-19.15 
  • Getting vaccinated when eligible. Vaccines can help protect you against COVID-19 infection.
  • Wearing a protective mask if immunocompromised. Masks help reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19.15 
COVID-19 spreads very easily through close contact with people who have the virus.16 When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release small droplets containing the virus. You can catch it by breathing in these droplets, or by touching surfaces covered in them and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.16  You are more likely to catch it indoors and in crowded places.16

You can still catch or spread COVID-19 if you:16 
  • Do not have symptoms.
  • Are fully vaccinated.
  • Have had the virus before. 
Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days, but you can be infectious for up to 10 days.16

 
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?15
You can get a NHS COVID-19 vaccine if you:14
  • Are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 17 June 2025).
  • Are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment. 
  • Live in a care home for older adults. 
If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine on the NHS, you can speak to your pharmacist about other vaccination options that may be available to you.15
 
Vaccination or immunisation may not be appropriate for all eligible individuals and the benefit-risk profile must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. It is for individuals and their healthcare professionals to discuss their options and what is right for them.15What treatments are available?  At high risk and testing positive for COVID-19? Speak to your healthcare professional right away.2-4 

The NHS offers treatment to eligible people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill. Based on your individual circumstances you may be deemed eligible for treatment for COVID-19 by your healthcare professional. As soon as you test positive for COVID-19 it's important to know your risk status, and if eligible, these treatments are available.3  


What do COVID-19 treatments do?  
Treatment options have been developed to support patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 by helping some patients to manage their COVID-19 symptoms and potentially reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.3

To be effective, COVID-19 treatments must be started soon after symptoms begin. Speak to your healthcare professional about your eligibility and possible treatment options as soon as you test positive.3

 
Could treatment be right for you?  
Only a healthcare professional can assess your eligibility for COVID-19 treatments, so speak with them about possible options.17  When talking to your healthcare professional about COVID 19 treatment options, consider and discover discuss the following:17 
  • Whether you have factors that could put you at risk for progression to severe COVID-19.17 
  • What kinds of treatments are available.17
  • What are the medications you are currently taking.17

How to look after COVID-19 symptoms yourself17 
Do:
  • Get lots of rest.
  • Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear). 
  • Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable. 
  • Try having a teaspoon of honey if you have a cough – do not give honey to babies under 12 months. 
  • Try turning the heating down or opening a window to help with breathlessness. 
  • Sit upright in a chair to help with breathlessness.
  • Relax your shoulders, so you're not hunched to help with breathlessness.
  • Lean forward slightly – support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair to help with breathlessness. 
Don't:
  • Lie on your back if you have a cough – lie on your side or sit upright instead. 
  • Use a fan to cool your room as it may spread the virus. 
  • Panic if you're feeling breathless – this can make it worse.  
Where can I learn more?The links below will provide further information about COVID-19, alongside the advice around preventative measures generally, and those available in your local area. Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist about what is available in your local area and what is most appropriate for you.

England: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/treatments-for-covid-19/  
Scotland: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19/  
Wales: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/c/article/coronavirus(covid19)/  
Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/respiratory-infections-including-covid-19 

Learn more about COVID-19 at https://www.pfizer.co.uk/covid-19  Prevention of respiratory infections
These methods could help prevent the respiratory infections: 
Further details on what methods of prevention are most appropriate for you can be found on your local NHS website, or by speaking to your local doctor or pharmacist. 
References
  1. Liu Z., Liang Q., Ren Y., et al. Immunosenescence: molecular mechanism and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023;8(1):200.
  2. Snell et al. 2016. Burden of lung disease in the UK; findings from the British Lung Foundation’s ‘respiratory health of the nation’ project. Accessed Sept 2025.
  3. NHS. Flu. Published Aug 2023. Accessed Sept 2025.
  4. NHS Inform. Flu. Published Aug 2025. Last accessed Sept 2025.
  5. NI Direct. Flu. Accessed Sept 2025.
  6. NHS. Pneumonia. Published Jan 2023. Accessed Sept 2025.
  7. Asthma + Lung UK. What is Pneumonia? Cases, symptoms and risks. Published Nov 2022. Accessed Sept 2025.
  8. NHS Inform. Pneumonia. Published Jan 2023. Accessed Sept 2025.
  9. NI Direct. Pneumonia. Accessed Sept 2025.
  10. Wilkinson T, Beaver S, Macartney M et al. Influenza Other Respiratory Viruses 2023; 17(9):e13188.
  11. Pfizer. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Accessed Sept 2025.
  12. NHS. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Published July 2024. Accessed Sept 2025. 
  13. Pfizer. About COVID-19. Accessed Sept 2025.
  14. Pfizer. COVID-19 Symptoms. Accessed Sept 2025.
  15. Pfizer. COVID-19 Prevention Strategies. Accessed Sept 2025.
  16. NHS. How to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19 infection. Published March 2023. Accessed Sept 2025.
  17. Pfizer. COVID-19 treatment options. Accessed Sept 2025.
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