Although respiratory viruses have their own characteristics and may manifest themselves in different ways in those affected, the viruses currently circulating in the country have one thing in common, which is that they all cause symptoms of fever and cough and may affect the following Respiratory or upper respiratory tract.
Natalia García, a pulmonologist at the Northern Medical University Hospital and consultant to the Ministry of Public Health, explains this by presenting a comparative table of respiratory infections, which highlights the differences in symptoms between influenza viruses, syncytial respiratory viruses, adenoviruses and influenza viruses Similarities and differences. pneumococcal bacteria.
influenza
According to experts, the influenza virus affects the upper and lower respiratory tract, manifesting as fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle pain and fatigue.
respiratory syncytium
The comparison table shows that respiratory syncytial virus, a virus that attacks young children and the elderly more often, affects the lower respiratory tract and presents with fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and wheezing.
Adenovirus
Adenovirus is a family of highly contagious viruses that can affect both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Infected individuals usually develop fever, cough and conjunctivitis, and in severe cases can cause diarrhea and pneumonia.
pneumococcal
Regarding pneumococcal pneumonia, the comparative report details that it affects the lower respiratory tract, manifesting as fever, cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and in severe cases, confusion and shock.
elderly
At the same time, the authorities of the Ministry of Public Health call on vulnerable groups to be vaccinated and yesterday launched a day of influenza vaccination at the San Francisco de Assis nursing home, led by Eladio Pérez, Undersecretary of Collective Health Leadership; José García Ramírez, Director of the National Council on Aging; Lucía Vargas, Directorate of Immunoprophylactic Vaccines (DIV); Sister Eugenia López Rodríguez, Director of Nursing Homes and Pan American Health Organization Representative to the country Alba Ropero.
Vargas reported that in the first 18 days of vaccination, 87,000 doses have been administered and 262,000 of the 470,000 doses received have been distributed to the District and Provincial Health Directorates (DAS/DPS), which Responsible for ensuring that vaccinations reach the most remote places on the national territory.
He recalled that in addition to the elderly, children between six months and two years old, pregnant women, health workers and patients with chronic diseases are also vulnerable groups identified for vaccination.
He reported that vaccination stations have been set up in important shopping malls in Greater Santo Domingo, where designated groups of people can go to get vaccinated, such as Plaza Central, Plaza Lama de la 27 de Febrero, Multicentro Churchil and Mega Centro. in a tent at the Ministry of Health and the San Socorro Children’s Hospital.
Protect
Likewise, Undersecretary Pérez highlighted that Dominicans’ social security coverage has increased significantly during the current administration, from 78% to 98%, with the social security share rising to 1.6 among the 5,700 patients with chronic diseases treated through high-cost drug plans. million households, a year-on-year increase of 300%.
He stressed that the coverage of members of the National Health Insurance (Senasa) has increased by more than 100% and that public health authorities are able to protect all people at risk of contracting the influenza virus, ahead of the vaccination of 200,000 doses of vaccine, which have been received previously and this year. to 470,000.