“Is pneumonia contagious?” is the most-Googled respiratory health question in the U.S., drawing an estimated 137,000 searches per month, according to a Sept. 22 analysis from healthcare staffing firm Soliant Health.
The data offer a glimpse at patients’ health concerns heading into the 2026-27 virus season.
To compile the ranking, Soliant Health analyzed 30,000 question-based search queries in September using data from the search engine optimization platform Ahrefs. Soliant identified the medical questions tied to respiratory illness season and ranked them by estimated monthly U.S. search volume. The firm excluded branded queries, entertainment searches and near-duplicate questions.
Together, the 15 questions draw more than 731,000 estimated searches a month, according to a Sept. 22 news release shared with Becker’s.
Alongside traditional internet search engines, AI platforms are emerging as another key tool patients use to find health answers. Thirty-four percent of Americans use AI chatbots for health information, and symptom diagnosis is one of the top reasons, according to a Pew Research Center survey released in August.
The new data come after a moderately severe 2025-26 flu season in which the CDC recorded a preliminary peak hospitalization rate of 21.1 per 100,000. They also come as this season’s vaccines add H3N2 subclade K, the dominant flu variant last season, which FDA advisers recommended in March.
Here are the 15 questions, with estimated monthly U.S. searches:
Editor’s note: Search volumes may vary over time.
- Is pneumonia contagious? (137,000)
- Is bronchitis contagious? (103,000)
- What is RSV? (95,000)
- How long does the flu last? (79,000)
- What does strep throat look like? (57,000)
- What is considered a fever? (45,000)
- What is pneumonia? (40,000)
- What is bronchitis? (32,000)
- What temperature is a fever? (28,000)
- How to get rid of a sore throat? (25,000)
- How to reduce fever in a baby naturally? (24,000)
- What kills a sore throat fast? (21,000)
- Why does my body ache and I feel tired with no fever? (17,000)
- Is walking pneumonia contagious? (16,000)
- How long is RSV contagious? (12,000)
