How long do flu, bronchitis or COVID-19 symptoms last?

this Spain’s health centers return to capacity as respiratory illnesses rise, which usually happens after a long weekend at this time of year, when people get together to completely relax. Dr. Luis Miguel Garcia, a family physician and president of the Aragon Association of Family and Community Medicine, advocates calm. “Don’t panic, bronchitis does happen, but we’re in winter now, it’s not a weird thing, it’s always there.Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, causes bronchiolitis in young children; When someone says RSV is expected to increase in adults, that translates into Spanish to mean more colds are expected. “

Garcia further clarified the definition. “Of course, any respiratory viral infection can be complexBut for a severe flu or cold, the norm is to have a fever for four days, then a sudden collapse and rest at home if possible. The famous four-day low tide period gradually arrives, and the fever peak gradually weakens. If the fever is still high after four days, even reaching 40 degrees, then there is cause for concern. “

Dr. Garcia clarified that the treatment in all these cases is simple: paracetamol and ibuprofen. “No more. Starting on the fourth or fifth day, when things get complicated, you consider antibiotics; you may have a nasal or nasopharyngeal viral infection. If you have nasal congestion and it seems to “go down” into the chest, then it’s not going down; it’s a double infection with another bacteria, possibly one that affects the bronchi. There you will need antibiotics to fight this new infection. “

Suspected viral reinfection

When infected for the first time, the body’s defenses are affected. “Imagine that your infectious dose arrives after eight high-load coughs under normal circumstances; With lower defenses from other infections, maybe you only need half as many coughs and half as many viral loads for a reinfection to occur. Just when you seem to be recovering, the phlegm comes and the fever gets worse… Bronchial inflammation can arrive via a variety of pathways. Women with allergies need corticosteroids, not antibiotics. You need something to reduce bronchial inflammation so you can ventilate better, mucus doesn’t build up and air can pass properly.return Nowadays, there is also otitis media, and the reason is the same: if the nose is blocked, the ears connected to the sinuses and Eustachian tube cannot ventilate.; Mucus doesn’t drain, the middle ear gets clogged, you lose hearing, you get a headache… it’s not necessarily an infection. “

Infection from dinner or meal this Christmas

Frequency and environment are another key factor. “One person coughing in a room of 50 square meters is different from 50 people coughing in 5 rooms., both exaggerated and vivid. When you catch a cold and talk, you excrete small particles like bullets; continuing the analogy, the probability of being hit depends on the number of bullets and whether you are wearing a vest. It is impossible to avoid it 100%, but the probability can be reduced by improving the variables. “

Dr. Garcia was clear about the potential peak of COVID-19 in recent weeks. “If people don’t get tested, we don’t know. Of course, people with colds can definitely be infected with the coronavirus, but they must be tested.If we group the respiratory cases in recent weeks, we see a higher number of colds and flu

, but it touches; they may be more aggressive, or it may be a population that is more sensitive and going to the doctor more than before. Two-day colds rarely happened before, but obviously we have been traumatized by COVID-19 recently, including professionals; “We used inhalers to solve some of the less serious saturation problems, now we are more likely to use oxygen. “

How to avoid spreading the flu or coronavirus?

Garcia asked for sanity. “Anyone who is sick should avoid hanging out with older or immunocompromised people or wear a mask.”; Small children are vectors of infection too, not necessarily COVID or the flu, if they are walking around with distemper they can spread something; If you have symptoms, it doesn’t matter even if you test negative; Be prepared for a rainy day. “

Garcia does not neglect the self-analysis of his argument. “In 2011, I was on duty at an infant school and I remember there were 300 sick children, which was also full at that time, but maybe the infection was more complicated and the healing was slower because the virus was still awake; however, I insist , maybe we will all be more afraid. In 2021, we wear masks and meet less, so it stands to reason that there will be very few infection cases. Christmas 2022 saw more cases as people relaxed wearing masks. Honestly, I don’t think until four or five years have passed that we will normalize all behaviors and the fact that COVID-19 is among us: it’s the bullet effect, be careful, the neighbor is in hospital, I’m already starting to be like him, don’t… … We’re still traumatized by people complaining that they look bad when they cough at work. “

Symptoms of Typical Winter Viruses: From Flu to RSV

As every fall and winter, there is an increase in viral infections that cause colds, flu, or respiratory illnesses. The coronavirus has been a factor for nearly three years, even as we move toward normalizing its presence among us.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fatigue, cough, headache, fever, Congestion and runny nose, muscle pain, diarrhea, choking, or loss of smell and taste. In the newly discovered omicron subvariant, cases of orthostatic hypotension (sudden dizziness at a specific time), loss of appetite, abnormally elevated heart rate, hoarseness and sneezing were detected. Aphonia and tachycardia are less common symptoms in pre-omicron subvariants.

Common symptoms of the flu include chills, fatigue, fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, excessive runny nose and sore throat, which can appear even 24 hours after infection. One of the most common symptoms of RSV is They usually appear within four to six days after exposure to the virus and are characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, and dry coughfever (usually low grade), sore throat, sneezing, headache. Infants may experience loss of appetite, fatigue, lethargy, and irritability.