With colder winters, the transmission of respiratory viruses increases, resulting in increased hospitalizations and visits for various seasonal diseases that, while affecting the entire population, particularly affect infants under 5 years of age and those older than 5 years.65 years.
Ospedyc Medical Director Dr. Valeria El Haj explains the most common winter conditions and how to prevent them.
What are the most common diseases in winter?
With cold and low temperatures, the spread of the virus increases, meaning that children or adults are at greater risk of developing their own illness during this time.
“A lot of times, winter affects the respiratory tract, so it’s more prevalent at this time of year,” explains El Haj.
influenza
Seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection. The most common viruses are influenza A and B viruses, which are characterized by sudden onset of fever, cough (usually dry), muscle, joint, head and throat pain, severe malaise and profuse nasal discharge. “In most cases, other symptoms usually disappear within a week without treatment,” explains the doctor.
This disease affects any age group, but some people are at higher risk than others, for example: medical personnel, pregnant women, people under 5 years of age, people over 65 years of age, patients with chronic heart, lung, kidney disease Metabolic disease (neurodevelopmental disease, liver disease or blood disorder) or immunosuppression (due to HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, or malignancy).
Seasonal flu spreads easily and quickly. An infected person coughs or sneezes, spreading virus-containing droplets into the air up to a distance of 1 meter, thereby infecting nearby people who inhale these droplets. The virus can remain active for hours in cold, low-humidity environments, and transmission increases in densely populated, enclosed spaces.
Patients who do not belong to high-risk groups should receive symptomatic treatment, and if symptoms develop, they should be advised to stay at home to reduce the risk of transmission. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, such as fever. If their condition worsens, they should seek medical attention.
The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination. The World Health Organization recommends annual vaccinations for:
- any stage of pregnancy
- Children from 6 months to 5 years old
- over 65 years old
- patients with chronic diseases
- health professionals.
The safety of each vaccine is a reality in American countries due to the safe vaccination system.
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Bronchiolitis
This is an inflammation of the small airways (bronchioles) that affects babies younger than 2 years old. Produced by respiratory synthetic viruses, the clinical and functional features are obstructive ventilatory dysfunction. “Diagnosis is established by clinical examination. For most children, bronchiolitis is a self-limited disease that can be managed symptomatically at home”, commented OSPEDYC National Medical Director. He added: “The cessation of breastfeeding, sleeping in a semi-sitting position, split feeding, pumping of secretions, and in some cases specific medications for bronchial obstruction are advised against.”
Alert guidelines to consider: Shortness of breath with wheezing or snoring, chest sinking while breathing, persistent fever over 38°, runny nose, loss of appetite, unable to drink or breastfeed, and he is upset to see him.
pneumonia
This is an acute lung infection that can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Generally, this is a benign process, so most patients can be treated on an outpatient basis, but occasionally it can evolve into a serious illness that may require hospitalization. “People over the age of 65 are the group most affected by the disease, and most of them have a severe form of the condition”, explains Valeria El Haj.
common cold
Colds are caused by different viruses with no complications and no specific treatment. They take about 7 to 10 days to heal. Initial symptoms after an incubation period of two to five days include: nasal congestion, throat irritation, fever, coughing and sneezing.
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Prevent Respiratory Diseases
To prevent respiratory illnesses such as influenza, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, OSPEDYC mentions that it is important to keep up-to-date with the vaccines in the national vaccination calendar, including influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.
Supplementary precautions
Ospedyc professionals recommend a series of measures that go hand in hand with vaccinations. This way, it helps eliminate viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. Measures include:
- Wash your hands with soap and water after coming home from the street, before cooking or eating, and after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Ventilate all rooms daily.
- Do not smoke and maintain a smoke-free environment.
- Consumption of over-the-counter medications may cause intoxication and mask disease symptoms, making correct diagnosis difficult and clinically exacerbated.
- While symptoms persist, please rest at home.
- Cover your mouth with a disposable tissue or the crook of your elbow when coughing or sneezing to avoid infecting others.
Another big winter problem is carbon monoxide poisoning, the silent enemy of cold weather. To avoid poisoning, it needs to be considered that poor combustion of household appliances can lead to inhalation of carbon monoxide poisoning and even death. The situation worsens in winter, when heaters and racks are turned on and the house is shut off for ventilation.
“It is very important to take all necessary measures to stop the spread of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. Also, carbon monoxide poisoning can occur and is 100% preventable if the room is ventilated regularly. The key is to ventilate, practice proper hand hygiene, and Avoid contact with people who have respiratory diseases. In this way we are helping to eliminate the virus and we are contributing to society, thereby reducing the number of cases among patients with certain diseases”, Obra Social del Personal de Entidades Deportivas y Civiles’ medical director concluded.