Take Measures To Avert Winter Illnesses

With the arrival of winter, we start dusting off our winter clothes. Despite mild winters, many of us experience illnesses associated with cold as the year comes to a close. Sniffles, sneezes, and shakes are likely to affect more people around the country during this season. Although it provides relief from sweaty, hot, and humid weather, we begin taking endless cups of ginger tea, and coffee in order to rejoice in the cool breeze and foggy landscape. However, our mood can experience an unexpected turn as this season brings a number of winter-related diseases and an upsurge in infections. 

The cooling down of the environment causes a temperature drop in our body that may take some time to adjust and oftentimes make people susceptible to various winter illnesses.  Let us talk about some of the most common cold weather culprits and their prevention.

Common cold 

Most commonly caused by rhinoviruses, a common cold is characterised by a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, headache, weakness, coughing, a scratchy throat, and watery eyes. It has been seen that the increased proximity of people during colder months is the main reason why we all catch a common cold during the winter. There is no vaccine against common cold. It usually spreads through contact with infected mucus. Therefore, avoiding contact with infected people becomes important and diligent hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs protects us from catching a cold. 

The duration of a common cold is usually between seven to 10 days. Therefore, it has become a leading cause of missed school and work. Adults experience an average of two to three colds per year and kids experience them even more frequently. Although there is no cure for the common cold, a combination of rest, increased fluids, and over-the-counter medications can ease symptoms until it subsides. Taking antibiotics is necessary as it is caused by viruses. 

A sore throat may be caused by anything from bacteria and viruses and may cause an infection of the throat and tonsils. The worst among them is caused by Streptococcus bacteria. There is no vaccine for strep throat, so prevention is the best weapon we have. However, frequent hand washing, avoiding close personal contact as well as refraining from shared drinking glasses and eating utensils are the best approaches to prevention.

A sore throat is spread by airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing, as well as by touching an infected surface or direct contact with a sick person.  This disease is characterised by a sore throat with pain when swallowing, fever, red and swollen tonsils, white patches or streaks of pus, small red spots on the roof of the mouth, and swollen lymph nodes. The condition may lead to difficulty in swallowing and gulping food. There are additional symptoms such as headache, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and a rash, known as scarlet fever may accompany.

A quick swab test can confirm the causative agent and if it is caused by bacteria, healthcare providers can prescribe antibiotics. Prudently used antibiotics help reduce symptoms and lessen the duration of sick time, as well as prevent the spread of infection and potentially serious complications. It is important to avoid work, school, or daycare until the fever is gone and after 24 hours of being on antibiotics. And equally important is to have proper rest and remain hydrated. 

Pneumonia is caused by the bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonia is more common during the winter and early spring. This communicable disease often causes shortness of breath in individuals. The germs that cause pneumonia can spread by coughing, sneezing, or touching infected objects and then touching the mouth and/or nose.

The symptoms associated with pneumonia are severe cough with green phlegm, high-grade fever accompanied by chills and headache, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and the purple coloration of the skin, vomiting, sweating, and muscle pain.

In the most serious cases, particularly among older adults over age 65 and children under 2, pneumococcal disease can lead to hearing loss, brain damage, and even death. A weakened immune system during winter increases the risk of catching the infection. People with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart and lung diseases as well as people who have undergone organ transplants and smokers are particularly vulnerable. 

Prevention

There are vaccines available for the prevention of pneumonia. It is specifically recommended for children from birth to age 18, as well as for those over age 65 and adults with potential risk factors. As with other infectious diseases, practising good hygiene and avoiding close contact with infected people are the mainstay of prevention. 

The cold weather and shorter days during the winter can demotivate us from regular exercise and hamper our wish of remaining healthy and fit, and therefore, increases the risk of contracting winter diseases. Reducing the risk of common winter illnesses always begins and ends with washing hands frequently. However, this most often ignored. It is better to prevent illnesses from occurring than go for treatment options, and the best way to do that is to plan ahead and remain vigilant.

(Dr. Lohani is the clinical director at the Drug and Poison Information Centre. lohanis@gmail.com)