Dr. Jaime Álvarez Zayas, Director of the Eighth Health Region, reported that due to the lower temperatures, consultations at the Puerto Vallarta Health Center Increased by up to 15% due to acute respiratory infectionsso it is recommended that if you experience any discomfort, see a doctor and do not self-medicate.
In this sense, he commented that currently, the common cold is the most common acute respiratory disease clinically; This is called the flu and is caused by a number of viruses that cause general discomfort.
headache, fatigue, as well as runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, and sometimes cough.“This disease is caused by a certain number of different viruses that are always present, especially when temperatures are cooler, and it actually goes away on its own because our body’s immune system is responsible for alleviating our symptoms, with little need for any medication .”
However, if you have a lot of symptoms, such as a high fever, you can take some medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and if you have a lot of runny nose, It is important to put saline drops or antihistamines directly into the nose If it’s an extreme situation.
On the other hand, there are infections with more complications, such as the flu, which start out similarly to the common cold but have more severe symptoms and are more severe. The situation can be complicated for people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly and children under 5 years old.
pregnant women, or people with medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or cancer or HIV.“The easiest and smartest thing to do is to see your doctor right away if it’s just a common cold or influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination and should be given year after year, and each season is different. It is different because it is updated every year and since October we have already prepared doses for the winter of 2023-2024.”
It is worth mentioning that more than 26,000 doses have been injected so far, accounting for 50% of the target of this campaign, which will end in March this year. On the other hand, the doctor said, Since November 2023, the number of visits to medical centers has begun to increase by up to 15%.
Finally, he called on citizens not to self-medicate, as most respiratory infections are caused by viruses and the only effective antiviral drugs are those used to treat influenza.
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