Monday, October 31, 2022

covid 19-trifecta of respiratory viral infections

COVID 19-TRIFECTA OF RESPITATORY INFECTIONS

the news media is calling it the tripledemic of infections
i call it the trifecta of infections

they are
the flu
rsv or respiratory syncytial virus
covid

there is an in house rapid test for all three of these

so you can be seen and soon know if you have one of these three trifecta infections

the news stories are all about the overflow of these three infections that is starting to overwhelm the emergency rooms and pediatric intensive cares across the us

we all know about the flu
it can be prevented by getting the flu shot especially pregnant moms who can carry that immunity to their newborns
those newborns and those under 6 months get hit the hardest especially with the rsv

covid can be prevented or slowed down by getting the covid shots and boosters
like with the flu shot you can still get sick but it can prevent you from getting bad sick

rsv has no specific treatment for most cases
its all supportive care
it hits the younger harder especially kids younger than 6 months and those who are immunosuppressed and those preterm babies
they are working on a vaccine to give pregnant moms and older folks to keep them from getting sicker
younger babies get bronchiolitis which causes mucous to clog up their airways causing them to have more respiratory distress than older kids

one reason these viruses have surged is that we have been isolated for the last two years with our masking and social isolation
thus the medical community saw less of these infections last year
alas with the good comes the bad
now there are two years of kids who have no immunity against these germs that now will be exposed to them
thus filling up the hospitals

so
keep sick adults and kids away from your newborn and your younger babies
watch for decreased appetite respiratory difficulty increasing cough fever wheezing irritably 
if these happen they should get evaluated

get your kids immunized against covid and flu and make sure those around them are immunized
especially pregnant women who can pass immunity to their newborns
it will be a long winter im afraid of this trifecta of respiratory infections in kids

then
be aware of exposure to the grandparents from these infections
make sure they are immunized to protect themselves
yes
rsv can make an older person sick with bronchitis and pneumonia and can lead to hospitalizations and in some cases death in these old folks

wear a mask
wash your hands
stay away from sick folks with these viruses
if you have them stay away from vulnerable folks like newborns babies immunosuppressed folks and folks like me with gray hair

well
i can mark off two of the trifecta
now
i just need to get my flu shot so i wont get that third one

be careful
protect others 
protect yourselves

the organicgreen doctor

No comments:

Post a Comment