As temperatures drop and more time is spent indoors during the holidays, we are also seeing a co-emergence of illnesses such as RSV, human parainfluenza viruses, or HPIV, influenza or flu, and COVID-19 for the first time since the pandemic.
Illness prevention is key as we continue to balance the long-term impacts of the pandemic with other viruses that are re-emerging after some “downtime” when COVID-19 was prevalent and mitigating factors such as mask-wearing, physical distancing social and stay-at-home orders were in place.
Currently, our hospitals and urgent care centers are inundated with RSV, which is infecting people ages 0-4 at very high rates, as well as our children ages 5-17.
Most of us will be infected with RSV by age 2, as well as several times throughout our lives.
RSV infections are mild in most cases, consisting of a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and perhaps fever. Treatment is supportive: stay hydrated, use ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever, and rest.
Given that anyone can get RSV, it is also important to note that last year there were about 177,000 RSV infections and 14,000 deaths in our elderly population.
However, our very young are experiencing an exponential wave of the disease, and as we see staff shortages and capacity limitations in our hospitals, we must ensure adequate care for those who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill: our very young, immunocompromised or old man
In babies, telltale signs of serious illness include dehydration, labored breathing such as abdominal breathing, retraction where the ribs can be seen, or decreased activity.
In the elderly, cough, congestion, any change in activity, shortness of breath, dehydration, or changes in baseline behavior are causes for concern.
Treatment is available in very special circumstances for immunocompromised babies; otherwise, severe cases may require oxygen, fluids, or respiratory support.
As we learned from COVID-19, proper hand hygiene, mask use, and surface cleaning are effective ways to prevent disease transmission, and we encourage you as we experience this increase in RSV.
Switching to influenza. Cases are also rising earlier than in previous years with a large burden seen in the south. The majority of influenza A cases are the H3N2 variant, and unfortunately we have had five pediatric deaths in the United States. The H3N2 currently circulating in the US was found to be genetically similar to the H3N2 component of our flu vaccine, and one study showed the vaccine was 49% effective in preventing hospitalization outside the US. .
Like most illnesses, our young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised are at the highest risk of illness and death. We also have four FDA-approved antivirals that have reduced the duration of illness. As we encounter this combination of respiratory diseases, consider getting vaccinated at your local health department, pharmacy, or health care provider.
We all have COVID-19 fatigue, but we’re also doing a great job of recognizing when we’re sick and how to prevent transmission as much as possible. Testing, vaccination, and treatment have all been shown to be effective.
Our cases are low right now and we hope to stay there through the winter. It’s hard to know what to expect in the coming months, but there is hope that we are reaching some level of immunity with natural and vaccine-induced immunity, while therapy, testing, and our personal mitigation strategies are ingrained in us.
However, COVID-19 is still here, where those under 6 months and over 65 are still hospitalized, and variants are constantly emerging.
The vaccine is available for anyone from 6 months, as well as the bivalent booster for those over 5 years of age. These can be given along with the flu vaccine.
If infected with COVID-19, antivirals and antibody therapy are also available for patients who meet the criteria. Test kit and treatment locations can be viewed online at accesscovidtests.org and covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com.
With the holiday season just around the corner, use these resources to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Najibah Rehman, MD, MPH, is the medical director for the St. Clair County Health Department.
Source: news.google.com