On Tuesday morning, we hosted Dr. Silvina Riat, Specialized Head of Epidemiology at the Municipal Hospital, on Radio Actualidad, with whom we discussed the increasing number of cases of respiratory disease in the region.
Riat said the latest epidemiological bulletin as of August provides information on what is happening in the health region, province and country, with illnesses “influenza, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, tracheobronchitis,” and all upper respiratory symptoms Classified as an ETI, these symptoms fall under the category of influenza-like illness, most of which are preventable with the flu vaccine. »
Regarding the flu vaccine, he emphasized, “It does not prevent the disease 100%, but the symptoms do not require hospitalization and patients can cope at home.”
Referring to the number of cases, Ryat explained that according to epidemiological bulletins, “it was observed that there were more cases of these three respiratory infections between 2014 and 2017,” but that “in 2017 it had dropped to less than 30,000 cases.” “. Countries during the pandemic as they are due to the corona virus. “
When the pandemic ended last year, there were 128,000 flu-like cases across the country, “on the same day we reported 120,000 cases this year,” implying a reduction in flu or flu-like illnesses. »
But, he said, “the highest peak will be in the first two weeks of 2023, with a clear outbreak of influenza-like illness”, so the early start of the influenza vaccination campaign, the strengthening of the vaccination program and the completion of anti-pneumococcal (prevention of pneumonia), resulting in “all such diseases The number of flu illnesses decreased until May, June and the first week of July, where there were new increases until alert levels were reached, but no outbreaks occurred.”
The increase, which did not lead to an outbreak, was “seen in all outpatient and inpatient consultations”, adding that cases “have fallen to expected levels compared to other years”.
In contrast, the opposite is true for pneumonia. At the beginning of the year, there were almost no cases of pneumonia, cases started to increase in late April, with an outbreak in mid-May, “then started to decline until now at the level expected for this time of year.”
Regarding samples from hospitalized patients sent to etiology to determine the cause, the bacterial cause was confirmed to be pneumococcus and “the vaccination program against pneumococcus has not been completed,” he said.
On the other hand, influenza cases sent to La Plata Rossi Hospital for virological studies confirmed that the adult influenza cases were caused by respiratory syncytial virus.
As for bronchiolitis, “it occurs mainly in children, with the most severe symptoms in children under the age of two. Of all the cases we sent to study, 90 percent were respiratory syncytial virus, and although it has been studied for about a year, the There is no approved vaccine yet, so we hope it will come out soon, and obviously, it will definitely be part of the vaccination program because bronchiolitis has a high mortality rate in young children.”
All told, “only this year has we evened out the percentage of respiratory symptoms that were present before the pandemic from 2014 to now,” the doctor said.
Regarding the treatment plan for the new coronavirus, he said that although “the swab test is no longer done, when severe respiratory symptoms are present, it is always tested quickly to rule out the new coronavirus, and so far, there have been no cases of this virus.” In the case of hospitalization, at least one month later.”
prevention habit
In addition to emphasizing the importance of vaccination, Dr Ryat said that “ideally, we should continue to maintain some of the habits we have developed during the pandemic, which is the first hurdle to prevention and it is all up to us individually Responsibilities such as hand hygiene, ventilation of confined spaces, not self-medicating without consulting a doctor, and not going to crowded places when you have respiratory symptoms.”
Vaccination
Regarding vaccination, he said that “our country has a very important awareness. Generally speaking, like more developed countries, there are not a large number of anti-vaccine groups” and “we have a complete vaccination plan”.
The vaccination center is no longer located in the hospital, but on St. Martin Street, next to the social development office, recalls Riat, emphasizing that “people have learned to use CAPS because it is close to their homes”. And noted that “none of them, not even CAPS in towns, have absolutely no shortage of vaccines. We send requests from the vaccinators from the vaccination centers, and I thank them for the work they do and the time they put into training.”
general practitioner
Dr Silvina Riat is a general practitioner and, according to herself, “The first priority of a family doctor or general practitioner is training in primary care, health promotion and prevention, not just rotating in different areas later on.”
“General practitioners are prepared to work at CAPS, detecting and managing everyday ailments that can be treated at home and understanding the population around the centre,” he said.
«When we talk about happiness or health I always emphasize that in health you have to go to the doctor once a year because this is the time for examinations, interrogations
“Once a year for health. One is for health. You have to go to the doctor because now is the time for control, that is, inquiries, physical examination, and if necessary, some supplementary research to prevent any impending pathological changes ,” Riat emphasized.
control
For the established health check, he pointed out, “There is also a timetable. Mothers all know that the baby needs to be checked 15 days after birth; thereafter once a month until the first year of life. Getting bigger and bigger, into adulthood, including juveniles, annual checkups are necessary, always for healthy people.”