Upper Respiratory Illnesses on the Rise
1/15/2024
NATCHEZ, Miss. – January 15, 2024 – If it seems like more people are getting sick each day – it’s not your imagination. Diagnoses of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are on the rise across the U.S with the CDC trackers show flu activity to be at a very high level here in Mississippi and more people visiting the emergency department or needing hospitalizations for treatment of severe symptoms.
If you are one of those who has gotten ill, the symptoms for each condition are similar and it’s important to know when they signal a medical emergency. All can cause mild to severe illness and sometimes lead to complications such as pneumonia or sepsis which can be life-threatening.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency warning signs of flu and COVID-19 include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen and confusion. Additional dangerous flu symptoms include persistent dizziness, inability to arouse, seizures, not urinating, severe muscle pain, severe weakness or unsteadiness, fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen and worsening of chronic medical conditions. If you or someone you know have any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
To protect yourself and others, there’s still time to get vaccinated for flu, COVID-19 and RSV, and it is safe to get them at the same time. Other steps to reduce the spread of respiratory diseases during this busy season are:
- Wash your hands often.
- Cover your cough or sneeze.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Stay home when you are sick with respiratory symptoms, except to get medical care.
“The Mardi Gras season, along with other social gatherings among friends and family can bring us together, making them a perfect breeding ground for illness,” said Brittany Gamberi, family nurse practitioner with Merit Health Medical Group Primary Care Clinic. “Vaccination is always a key way to lessen your chance of illness, but common sense also remains important. Stay home if you are not feeling well as illness is the gift no one wants.”
Those at the highest risk of serious illness from flu or COVID include babies and toddlers, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
People ages 60 years and older should talk to their healthcare provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them as well. Older adults, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, with weakened immune systems or living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities are at the highest risk for RSV illness.
Brittany continues, “Your healthcare provider can test to determine whether the flu, COVID-19 or RSV virus is causing your illness and what treatment will be beneficial. Seek medical care immediately if you are experiencing extreme symptoms such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or confusion.”
If you need to find a primary care provider, visit https://www.merithealthnatchezdocs.com/doctors-providers to schedule an appointment with providers or call 601-445-1715.
Merit Health Natchez offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox from a trusted medical source. You can sign up at https://www.merithealthnatchez.com/enewsletter-sign-up.
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