What's going around in Illinois
These numbers come from what people across Illinois are searching for on the web (Google Trends) and CDC flu data, not parent reports yet. We're working to replace them with real data from families sharing what's going around.
The illnesses going around Illinois this week are Pink eye, Common Cold, and Hand, Foot & Mouth. Pink eye is the most active, at high levels for the week of Oct 4 – Oct 10, 2026, based on CDC illness surveillance and Google search activity for Illinois.
Updated Oct 10, 2026, based on 17 parent reports in Illinois in the last 14 days
Ready for this at home?
Pink eye is one of the most active illnesses in Illinois right now. Here's what's worth having at home before it reaches your family.
Open the cold and flu season kitPink eye
Prevention tips
- Do not share towels, pillows, or eye makeup.
- Wash hands after touching the eyes or face.
- Most schools require 24 hours of drops before returning.
Common Cold
Prevention tips
- Hand-wash before eating and after blowing noses.
- Disinfect shared surfaces (doorknobs, remotes, toys).
- Use tissues once, then trash and re-wash.
Hand, Foot & Mouth
Prevention tips
- Wash hands after diaper changes and bathroom trips.
- Disinfect toys, tables, and high-touch surfaces daily.
- Keep kids home until fever is gone and blisters are drying.
Strep Throat
Prevention tips
- See a provider for a rapid strep test before assuming it is viral.
- Stay home until 12 to 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
- Replace toothbrushes once treatment begins.
RSV
Prevention tips
- Keep infants away from anyone with cold symptoms.
- Ask about Beyfortus (nirsevimab) for babies under 8 months.
- Wash hands before holding or feeding the baby.
Head Lice
Prevention tips
- Avoid head-to-head contact and do not share hats or brushes.
- Use an over-the-counter treatment and comb daily for 2 weeks.
- Wash bedding and worn clothes in hot water.
Stomach bug
Prevention tips
- Hand-wash with soap (sanitizer does not kill norovirus).
- Hydrate with small frequent sips of water or electrolyte drinks.
- Stay home until 48 hours after the last vomiting or diarrhea.
Flu
Prevention tips
- Get the seasonal flu shot for everyone 6 months and up.
- Wash hands often and cover coughs with the elbow.
- Keep sick kids home until fever-free for 24 hours without medicine.
COVID-19
Prevention tips
- Stay current on the recommended COVID vaccine.
- Test if symptoms appear or after a known exposure.
- Isolate per current CDC guidance and mask around others.
Where these numbers come from
The activity levels above are not parent reports. They reflect what people across Illinois are searching for on the web (Google Trends) and CDC flu surveillance, which is an early, rough signal. They tell us something is circulating, but not where or which school.
Our goal is to replace this with something better: real trends from parents, specific to your neighborhood, daycare, and school. Every symptom you log gets us closer to illness data that is finally useful for families. You can help us get there by inviting a friend or sharing Ickly with other parents.
What to do with this
Knowing what's going around changes your next move
This isn't about telling you what to do. It's about giving you the information to decide what's right for your family. Every parent's situation is different, and better information means better decisions, on your terms.
Take them in sooner
Sore throat and strep is going around? Skip the wait-and-see and ask for a rapid test. Catching it early means fewer sick days and a faster return.
Keep them home when it counts
Big meeting or work trip coming up? If something's spreading, you can plan ahead, keep them home a day, and avoid the 6am scramble.
Send them, but stay sharp
Activity is low? Send them to school knowing what to watch for, so if symptoms show up you're ready instead of blindsided.
Restock before you need it
Nothing worse than a sick kid in your arms and expired Tylenol in the cabinet. If something's spreading, check the medicine shelf now, not at 2am with no partner home.
Know you're not the only one up
3am, nursing or holding a feverish kid, is a lonely hour. Seeing that other parents nearby are up with the same bug makes it feel less like just you against the night.
Learn what to look for, before it hits
First time your kid gets hand, foot, and mouth? Most parents have never heard of it until it's in their house. Knowing what's coming lets you read up on symptoms and remedies ahead of time, instead of mistaking a rash for a mosquito bite at midnight.
The payoff
For your family, and for every family in your community. The more parents report, the clearer the picture gets for everyone.
Not sure what it is? Compare symptoms
Side-by-side guides to help you tell flu from cold, strep from viral, and more.
Seasonal outlook
A year of sick days
See which illnesses peak each month and prepare for what's coming next.
How illness tracking works in Illinois
Each illness below carries an activity index from 0 to 100 that compares Illinois right now against its own typical levels, so a 70 means unusually busy for this time of year rather than a raw case count. Pink eye, Common Cold, and Hand, Foot & Mouth are the ones parents are most likely to run into at school and daycare this week.
State numbers tell you the backdrop. What actually decides whether you keep a child home is what is spreading in your own building, which is why Ickly also collects anonymous sick-day logs from parents and groups them by school, daycare, and city in Illinois. Nothing appears until at least two families report the same thing.
This page refreshes as new CDC indicators and search-trend data post each week. If a week looks quiet, it usually means reporting for that week has not landed yet, not that illness stopped.
Frequently asked questions
- What is going around in Illinois right now?
- Pink eye, Common Cold, and Hand, Foot & Mouth are the most active illnesses in Illinois this week, with Pink eye at high levels. The full list, with an activity level for each illness, is at the top of this page.
- Is the flu going around Illinois?
- Flu activity in Illinois is very low this week, with an activity index of 19 out of 100. Flu tends to climb through late fall and peak in winter, so check back weekly.
- Is there a stomach bug going around Illinois?
- Yes, stomach illness is showing low activity in Illinois this week. Stomach bugs move fastest in schools and daycares, and kids can stay contagious for about 48 hours after symptoms stop.
- Where does this Illinois illness data come from?
- Two sources, combined: CDC influenza-like illness surveillance for Illinois, and Google search activity for illness terms in the state. Ickly layers anonymous sick-day logs from local parents on top, so you can go from statewide trends to your own child's school.
- How often is this page updated?
- Weekly. The activity levels shown here cover the week of Oct 4 – Oct 10, 2026, and refresh as soon as new CDC and search-trend data posts. Parent-reported school logs update continuously.
- How do I see what's going around at my child's school in Illinois?
- Search for your school or daycare on Ickly, follow it with a free account, and you will see what local families are logging plus a heads up when something starts spreading in that building.
Source: CDC ILI surveillance and Google search trends. Activity index is relative (0-100) and not a diagnosis. Our goal is to replace these search-based estimates with real data from parents logging what's going around. Always consult a healthcare provider for medical concerns.