August 20 (Buen Vivir Digital Magazine).- Spring is coming, and the domestic climate has changed from low temperature to sunny, which can easily lead to more serious health problems such as colds, so you should be alert to acute respiratory infections.
Dr. Fernando Romero, executive director of the Union of Branches of Public Health Medicine (Sirmes), noted that La Paz and the western region are passing through a critical moment, as the transition from winter to spring could result in the emergence of new strains of the virus or highly invasive bacteria.
In that sense, he said, it’s important to maintain the care learned during COVID-19, which is biosecurity measures. Physical distancing, frequent hand washing and, if sick, wearing a mask are essential to prevent the spread of disease.
If you develop severe cough, high fever and difficulty breathing, you should go to the hospital immediately because these symptoms are danger signs. Romero says it’s important to protect yourself with good hydration, taking vitamin C, zinc, omega 3, vitamin D and other antioxidants that, along with Covid-19, have been shown to help prevent respiratory illness.
For children, maintaining the entire vaccination schedule is critical, he said. These measures will help reduce the power of the disease. He added that upper respiratory infections, which are often associated with difficulty passing food through the throat, coughs and colds, should be prevented.
Lower respiratory tract infections, which are more of a concern, can also occur, and occur when the respiratory defenses are overwhelmed and the infection moves to the lungs.
Romero introduced that at the current stage of bronchitis, tracheobronchitis is only one step away from pneumonia. This condition is already a very serious health problem as it causes damage to the lungs, involves systemic damage, presents with fever and putrefaction.
He warned that if the person is elderly, or pregnant, has some underlying pathology, is facing some immunosuppression, the health condition could become more complicated and the patient could end up in the intensive care unit or even die.
According to Romero, children are also vulnerable to these infections, as Bolivia has one of the highest rates of respiratory diseases and pneumonia infections.
The National Institute of Statistics (INE) household survey in 2021 showed that 31.97% of the population under the age of 5 suffered from acute respiratory infections that year. By sector, Santa Cruz has the highest incidence with 43.1% of the child population, followed by Beni with 37.3%, Pando with 32.61%, Potosi with 32.43%, Tarija with 31.90%, and Chuquisaca with 29 87 %, Cochabamba 28.32%, Oruro 27% and La Paz 18%.
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