The Ultimate Guide to Persistent Coughs, Sore Throats, and Fevers: Expert Insights and Tips

2023-07-18 05:53:00

In these last weeks, in the guards, adult consultations began to grow for cough that does not go away for more than a week doesn’t let me sleep sore throat y fever or some temperature lines that are not, according to the specialists in charge of those care areas and pulmonologists.

“There are many consultations for cough, with or without expectoration. It is the most frequent symptom of the last two or three weeks,” he says. Oscar Rizzohead of the Emergency Department of the María Ferrer Hospital and member of the Respiratory Infections Section of the Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine (AAMR). The picture, which in the majority is occurring in the population of productive age (between 30 and 60 years), as described, is completed with a sore throat, tiredness from not being able to sleep if they have a cough and fever (38°C or more). or fever that is around 37.5°C.

“This time of year, we are seeing more and more gripein more than 50% of cases, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viruses, such as rhinovirus. Especially in boys, we are seeing [cuadros por] Streptococcus pneumoniae [neumococo] in the upper airway, as pharyngitis and tonsillitisamong others,” says laura polishedcoordinator of the Section of Infectious Diseases of the AAMR.

Until last month, as he continues, the bronchiolitis in children and, in adults, flu and bronchitis. “This is very frequent in the cold months, which this year took a while and came very suddenly. So the weather did not help us and, with the humidity and the low pressure that occurred last month, it contributed to the viral circulation that occurred in adults and children, who also infect adults ”, he describes.

Rizzo adds that, unlike in 2020 and 2021, when pneumonias were viral due to Covid-19, now the pneumonias pneumococcal bacteria and Haemophilus influenzae and the flu as before the pandemic. “There are patients with Covid, but they are more isolated, with mild symptoms and a very low level of hospitalization,” says the professional.

Cough, with or without expectoration, the main reason for consultation, which is usually accompanied by sore throat, tiredness and feverAnnie Spratt / Unsplash

Compared to mid-May, when there was a sharp increase in bronchiolitis cases due to this season’s outbreak, in the Garrahan Hospital note this decrease in the number of attentions for RSV. From a peak of up to 300 positive determinations for all respiratory viruses between the weeks of May 7 to 20, among which the majority were positive for bronchiolitis, now it is around half, as he explains Dario Barsottideputy medical director of that national reference center for pediatric care.

“The RSV pressure decreased, which is accompanied by a drop in bronchiolitis cases,” says the professional. From the weeks between the 11th and the 24th of last month, the number of positive determinations for respiratory viruses decreased: at the moment, they are between 120 and 130 per week, in which the detection of influenza and rhinovirus predominates, which cause colds and exacerbations of asthmatic or bronchiolitis-like symptoms, among others.”

In it Hospital of ClinicsMeanwhile, consultations increased by 30% with the cold and the change in temperatures. Most are viral infections, pneumonia and, especially, in people with pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, which increases the predisposition to relapse with changing temperatures.

Ana Maria Putruele head of the Pulmonology Division of the university hospital, highlights the importance of consulting at this time when faced with symptoms such as a cough that does not subside or becomes more intense or that are common to those of a coldbut that last more than a week.

“At these times of the year there is a significant increase in respiratory diseases in general,” he says. Fever, chills, sore throat and cough can occur when our immune system reacts to invading organisms (viruses or bacteria). Coughing is always an indicator that something is wrong: it can be dry or with phlegm or expectoration, which if it is yellowish in color indicates an infection.”

Also, mention to take into account the appearance of whistles and the feeling of pressure in the chest, in addition to fatigue o difficulty breathing (dyspnea), which along with sneezing, fever and headache are among the main indicators of a respiratory illness. “Consulting with a specialist as soon as they start is very important,” especially if they don’t give in, explains Putruele, who is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).

In boys without previous illnesses, Barsotti recommends making consultations in the morning and in the nearest health centers. If fever, cough and runny nose appear, she also advises consulting with the pediatrician. This avoids saturating the guards. “In the presence of any complication, the professional who attends that consultation will take care of the referral,” she says.

Remember, at the same time, the importance at this time of year of keeping the rooms ventilated and completing the vaccination cards. “There are many vaccine-preventable diseases, which are the best way to protect children,” insists Barsotti.

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