Influenza-like illness (ILI), also known as acute respiratory infection (ARI), is a medical diagnosis characterized by fever and cough. Common symptoms include shivering, chills, malaise, and body aches. ILI can spread through coughing, sneezing or surfaces contaminated with influenza virus. While most ILI cases are mild and self-limiting, symptoms are generally caused by the immune system's cytokine response. Preventative measures include frequent handwashing, cleaning and disinfection, monitoring for illness, coughing etiquette, staff vaccinations, and staying home when sick.