Martin Vazquez Villanueva/Quadratín
We are most likely to get the flu every winter, maybe even more than once. The weather is getting colder, we are spending more time indoors, and as the year ends and the beginning of the year begins, many people around us are coming down with the flu. Although this condition is so common that we almost don’t think about it anymore, it’s worth reviewing seasonal respiratory infections to try to prevent them and be better prepared to face the complications that inevitably arise, especially for those who The most vulnerable group: children. Children, the elderly and people with comorbidities.
The most common is the common cold. Symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, burning throat, headache, low-grade fever, and body cramps are most noticeable in the first three days of illness but may last a week or longer. Although it is not a serious illness, it is one of the leading causes of absences from work and school. It is caused by one of more than 200 virus types, mainly belonging to the rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus families. This season, epidemiologists are especially calling our attention to the latter, which spreads very early and will certainly be the cause of a large number of respiratory infections during these months. Care must be taken because respiratory syncytial virus is one of the most common causes of infection in young children and has the potential to worsen into a life-threatening form of pneumonia.
Influenza, as we colloquially call it, is a sudden-onset infection that affects the entire body more and can be more serious. It affects the nasal mucosa, throat, bronchi, and even the lungs in some cases. It begins with high fever, muscle aches, headache, dry cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion, and may be accompanied by gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Influenza viruses, including the influenza A (H1N1) virus that caused the 2009 pandemic, spread very easily and often circulate in seasonal epidemics. Most patients recover within a week or two at most, but again, in vulnerable groups it can be complicated by pneumonia and even lead to death.
We can’t stop talking about another virus that has been added to the list of seasonal infections: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It will still exist, albeit in an endemic way, that is, it will occur regularly rather than as an epidemic. It’s true that the virus variants currently circulating are less lethal than those circulating early in the pandemic, but it’s also true that these variants are more contagious. We expect an increase in cases this season and it is important to take this into account to do our best to prevent infection as it will continue to produce severe cases and deaths regardless.
All these respiratory infections caused by viruses have one thing in common, and that is that we have no specific, truly effective treatment (it must be emphasized again and again that antibiotics have no effect against these microorganisms). Therefore, from a public health perspective, the solution to these problems is prevention. We have learned a lot in this regard due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we can apply these lessons this winter: healthy distancing, frequent hand washing, use of masks in public and enclosed spaces, avoidance of crowds. The weather is going to get colder and the year-end holidays are approaching, so these measures taken during a major crisis are also very relevant in the new normal times we are already living in.
During this winter season, I am especially concerned about our most vulnerable: our youngest children, our grandmothers and grandfathers, people with underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or compromised immune systems. This is why I urge us not to believe in ourselves. Seasonal viruses have arrived and will continue to spread for months, at least until March or April next year, and it is our responsibility to use the prevention lessons we have learned to deal with them. For a healthier society that is healthier and more supportive of people at risk, long live Oaxaca!
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