The Dangers of Winter: Symptoms of Llu and Colds

With temperatures falling, the population should be careful, because during winter it is common to the increase in respiratory diseases, such as colds and flu. The drop in temperature, the drier air and the largest concentration of people indoors favor the circulation of the various types of respiratory viruses such as influenza viruses, which cause the flu - both the common flu, also called seasonal influenza, the flu H1N1, which emerged in the world in 2009.

The increase of cases of influenza usually occurs between the months of May and October. However, this time varies according to the region. "In the North and Northeast, the tendency is to increase the number of cases between April and June, the rainiest months. In the south and southeast, which have bitter winters, the cases were concentrated from June to October.

According to preliminary data from the Sentinel Surveillance System for Influenza at the Ministry, the first week of June this year, has been observed throughout the country, an increase in the number of visits for flu-like illness. The set of symptoms that usually appears in patients with the flu - fever, cough and headache, among others - accounted for approximately 15% of all visits in 62 health units responsible for monitoring influenza cases across the country.

Here is information about the flu and the main guidelines for people with symptoms of the disease. These include recommendations to strengthen hygiene habits, attention to children and the elderly, the risks of taking medication on their own and need to seek the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms.

Flu

It is an acute respiratory illness caused by influenza virus and its main symptoms of fever (usually above 37 degrees), nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, joint pains and a runny nose. Symptoms usually manifest between two and three days after exposure and last on average a week.

The virus may start to be transmitted up to the day before the onset of symptoms, and the transmission period lasting seven days, in adults, and up to 14 days, in children. The most common form of transmission is direct between people through saliva droplets expelled by talking, coughing and sneezing. The other way is indirect, through the hands, after touching surfaces contaminated with secretions from sick people, can carry the virus directly into the mouth, nose and eyes.

Therefore, simple hygiene habits are so important for the prevention (see below), because the virus remains in vivo environment for 72 hours, and surfaces such as hand rails, door handles and taps, up to 10 hours.

Cold and Rhinitis

Lighter and less time consuming, the cold is often mistaken for flu. Although similar, cold symptoms are milder and last for less time, between two and four days. In general, people have a cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, body aches and mild sore throat. The common cold, fever is less common and, when it appears, is low (up to 37 degrees).

Another disease that also has similar symptoms and can be confused with the flu is allergic rhinitis. The main symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and throat irritation. Allergic rhinitis is not a communicable disease, but chronic, caused by contact with agents allergens (substances that cause allergies) such as dust, pet dander, pollution, mold and some foods.

Hygiene habits

Adopting simple hygiene habits - such as frequent hand washing, not sharing personal items if you are having flu symptoms and cover mouth and nose with disposable tissue when coughing and exhale - is an effective way to prevent colds and flu. "Use soap and water for washing hands and cleaning the environment is a cheap and effective prevention and should be adopted by the whole population," advises the Coordinator of Disease Surveillance Transmission Respiratory Health Ministry, Marcia Carvalho. The expert explains that damp and cold favoring the multiplication of the virus. So, keep ventilated and lit environments with sunlight also helps in prevention.

Children and elderly

The hygiene practices should be reinforced with children and the elderly. For small, especially in the school environment, it is recommended that, in addition to encouraging hand washing, toys and objects of common use are washed with soap and water or cleaned with alcohol gel to 70%. In nurseries, it is also important to prevent children sleep very close. The distance between them is one meter. As for the elderly, the danger lies in the complications with the flu such as pneumonia and worsening of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.