As the 2026–27 virus season approaches, Americans are turning to search engines for answers to common questions about respiratory illnesses. A recent analysis of 30,000 health-related search queries found that the 15 most-searched respiratory health questions account for more than 731,000 estimated U.S. searches each month. The most common question was “Is pneumonia contagious?”, with an estimated 137,000 searches per month, followed by questions about whether bronchitis is contagious, what RSV is, how long the flu lasts, and what strep throat looks like. Other frequently searched topics include what qualifies as a fever, how to manage a sore throat, reducing a fever in a baby, and how long RSV remains contagious.
The findings provide insight into the types of questions patients may have as respiratory illnesses become more prevalent. They also reflect a broader shift toward digital sources for health information, with 34% of Americans reporting that they use AI chatbots for health information, including for symptom-related questions. With patients increasingly seeking answers online before or alongside speaking with healthcare professionals, practices may see more questions surrounding common respiratory symptoms and illnesses during the upcoming virus season.
Resource: 15 most-Googled health questions ahead of virus season