What’s Going Around Right Now? Five Illnesses to Watch For

If it feels like someone in your family, workplace, or child’s classroom is always sick this time of year, you’re certainly not alone. As temperatures cool and people spend more time indoors, respiratory illnesses circulate more often. November is often when healthcare providers start seeing more patients with coughs, congestion, sore throats, and fevers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity is increasing in many parts of the country, and several other respiratory illnesses are also circulating. Understanding the symptoms of common infections can help you recognize when it’s time to seek medical care.

1. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is one of the illnesses to watch for as we approach winter. Unlike the common cold, flu symptoms often develop suddenly and may include fever, chills, body aches, headaches, fatigue, and a persistent cough. Some people, especially children, may also experience vomiting or diarrhea. Prescription antiviral medications may help shorten the illness and reduce complications, particularly when started early.
2. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is another infection that deserves attention. Although RSV often causes symptoms similar to a common cold, it can lead to more serious respiratory problems in infants, young children, older adults, and individuals with certain underlying health conditions. Symptoms may include a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing. Infants may show unusual irritability, decreased activity, or difficulty feeding.
3. COVID-19 continues to circulate throughout the year, and its symptoms can overlap with those of the flu and other respiratory infections. Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, and body aches. Some patients may also experience changes in their sense of taste or smell. Because symptoms alone cannot reliably distinguish COVID-19 from influenza, testing may be helpful in determining the appropriate treatment.
4. Strep throat is another infection that frequently affects school-aged children and adults. Unlike the flu and common cold, strep throat is caused by bacteria. It typically produces a sudden, painful sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes white patches on the tonsils. A cough and runny nose are less typical of strep throat. A rapid strep test or throat culture can help confirm the diagnosis, and patients with confirmed strep throat generally require antibiotics.
5. The common cold remains one of the most frequent reasons people experience respiratory symptoms. Several viruses, including rhinoviruses, can cause colds. Symptoms usually develop gradually and include sneezing, nasal congestion, a runny nose, mild sore throat, and coughing. Most colds improve with rest, hydration, and supportive care, although symptoms can sometimes linger for more than a week.

With so many illnesses sharing similar symptoms, it can be difficult to determine what is making you sick. While most respiratory infections resolve without complications, persistent or worsening symptoms, dehydration, or a fever that does not improve may warrant medical evaluation. Difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, or other signs of a medical emergency require immediate attention.

At Marque Urgent Care, our medical providers can evaluate common respiratory illnesses, recommend appropriate testing, and develop treatment plans based on your symptoms and medical history. With convenient locations throughout Orange County and San Diego, along with virtual urgent care services for eligible conditions, we’re here to help you and your family feel better.

As we head into the holiday season, remember that washing your hands frequently, staying home when sick, keeping recommended vaccinations up to date, and practicing good respiratory hygiene can help reduce the spread of illness