Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) guide

What are the symptoms of ARI?

Although symptoms are similar to the common cold, depending on the virus causing your ARI, symptoms may have a sudden onset, be more severe and last longer than a common cold.

The main symptoms are:

• High temperature – above 38°C
• A cough
• Joint or muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Runny nose.

You may also have symptoms such as:

• Headache
• Fatigue/unusual tiredness
• Feeling sick or being sick
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of taste and/or appetite.

How can I catch it?

The virus is contagious and can spread between people by:

• Coughing or sneezing
• Touching or shaking the hand of an infected person or contaminated items in their environment and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.

What should I do if I have symptoms?

Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and your medical history. Your doctor or nurse may request a swab to be taken from your nose and mouth to see which virus is causing your symptoms.

You will be asked to avoid contact with others until your swab result is available.

If the swab is positive for a infectious ARI virus you will be asked to isolate and avoid contact with others until you are outside of your infectious period.

Healthcare workers will wear a face mask and/or visors while caring for you. You may need to wear a mask if moving/transferring to other areas of your healthcare setting, or appointments may be postponed to prevent further spread.

How long will I be infectious for?

People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms. They can continue to spread the virus, for example in coughs and sneezes. People are considered no longer infectious once they are feeling better, do not have a temperature if they had one, or five days from the start of symptoms - whichever is sooner.

Children and people with multiple health conditions are considered no longer infectious once they are feeling better, do not have a temperature if they had one, or 10 days from the start of the symptoms.

Treatment

You may start to feel better within a couple of days of developing symptoms. Antibiotics do not work against viruses and will not be prescribed. Your doctor or nurse will be able to advise you on any treatment you will require.

How to stop the spread

Infection control measures can help to reduce the spread of infection.

‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ - if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus, please use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and put the used tissues in a bin as soon as possible, then wash your hands straight away.

Always wash your hands regularly with soap and water and dry thoroughly and ensure you wash your hands after visiting the toilet and before handling food.

If you are a visitor and have been wearing a mask, gloves, or an apron to visit or care for a person with ARI, before leaving the room or bay, you must take them off and put them straight in the bin, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them carefully.

Can I have visitors?

It is understood that having contact with family and friends is fundamental. If you have symptoms of ARI or you have received a positive swab for ARI virus, you may be asked to reduce the number of visitors you have and postpone any unnecessary contact with visitors until you are feeling better.

If your visitors are feeling unwell or have symptoms of ARI they will be asked to not visit until they are feeling better.

Your visitors may be advised of the need to wear a mask, gloves or apron. The nurse looking after you will be able to advise your visitors. 

If I am pregnant, am I at particular risk?

You may be at greater risk of ARI because your immune system is likely to be weaker. Therefore, you should talk to your GP or ward staff before visiting anyone with ARI symptoms.

Prevention

Vaccination is an important way of reducing the risk of catching ARI viruses. Vaccination is effective 14 days after administration. You may be eligible for free COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations.

The vaccine is available free on the NHS for:

• Anyone over the age of 65 
• Pregnant women
• Children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or respiratory disease)
• Children and adults with weakened immune systems.

If you have any questions, please speak to your doctor or nurse who should be able to help, or signpost you to the correct healthcare professional.

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens and responds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377 Freephone: 0800 328 2941 Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk