Welcome winter, not respiratory infections
Respiratory infections like colds, sore throat, tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis and influenza-like illness (ILI) or seasonal flu are common in winter. These infections are often caused by viruses that start flourishing with the dropping of temperature. Most of the respiratory infections that occur in winter are self limiting and disappear within a few days without any medical intervention. These medical illnesses are costly as they are responsible for 40 percent of the absenteeism in the workforce and millions of lost school days. These infections are irritating and can make you to feeling bad all the time. With some simple but highly effective steps to maintain respiratory hygiene, we can prevent common respiratory infections. If you get sick, you can even take care of yourself to keep the infection from getting worse. The winter is upon us and with that comes an increased number of respiratory infections in both children and adults. Most are fairly mild, self-limiting and confined to the upper respiratory tract. In some instances, however, and especially in infants and children, upper respiratory infections (URI) may cause more severe disease. Most respiratory infections are viral. Some are the result of bacteria and others may be a combination of the two. These infections typically present with similar symptoms like stuffy or runny nose, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, low grade fever and headache. It can frequently appear in closed settings such as schools and long-term care facilities, when multiple agents may be involved. At this time, hospitals experience winter surges in outdoors and indoor admissions due to respiratory infections signaling that activity of respiratory viruses are increasing and is expected to peak in several weeks. The spread of most respiratory illnesses can be controlled through the use of good infection control practices including proper hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene. Good hand washing is the best way to avoid spreading colds from person to persons. To reduce the spread of infection, we can follow the following practices: • Wash hands frequently with soap and especially after coughing or sneezing • Clean the whole hand, under the nails, between fingers and up to wrists. Wash for at least 15-20 seconds. Do not just wipe but rub well •Cover mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing or coughing and then discard the tissue •Avoid close contact with persons who have cold Since most of these infections are mild, they do not always reach medical attention. Testing for these infections is not always available or accurate. The very best treatment is rest and hydration. Extra rest helps strengthen the immune system. So it can effectively fight off the virus and bacteria. Keeping well hydrated by ingesting liquids eases the discomfort of nasal congestion. You can use over-the-counter medications but they will not cure the infection. They will only make the symptoms easier to bear. Since it is normal to have a low fever, the drug — Paracetamol can reduce it and relieve the general felling of malaise. Since URI may involve congestion in the sinuses and lungs, sore throat and ear pain or all of these, there are various other medications to soothe sore throats coughs, and congestion. However if your fever is higher than 102 degrees, does not go away, or does go away but then returns with new symptoms, you need to see a doctor. A URI should run its course in 7 to 14 days but if it lasts longer, you also need to consult a doctor. Occasionally a viral infection will cause a secondary bacterial infection. In this case, you need to be treated with antibiotics and of course, should be recommended by a physician. But in many cases URI's are frequently treated with antibiotics. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be avoided. This is ineffective for two reasons. First, viral infections do not respond to antibiotics. Secondly, this help bacteria build up a resistance to antibiotics thereby compromising their effectiveness in situations where they were really needed.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments