Last week’s conundrum of “getting sick” continues, but the bird flu is not the concern this time. An increasing number of children are staying at home and schools closed temporarily in some states last week. College students around campus are having lingering coughs, sinusitis, headaches and more that do not seem to get better.
Three illnesses can be pinned down for this debacle: influenza A (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), all of which are respiratory illnesses, or infecting the lungs and airways.
As of Feb. 7, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that a “very high level” of people nationwide are seeking healthcare due to infection with respiratory illnesses.
Influenza is dramatically surging in the United States, with Louisiana currently being a hotspot. COVID-19 similarly is rising in many areas of the nation. However, RSV appears to be on the decline.
The flu is caused by the influenza A virus (H5) and shares symptoms with the common cold with the main difference being the presence of fever.
If someone has fever in addition to cold symptoms, then they most likely have the flu.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, body aches, cough, headache, to name a few.
Transmission can be through direct or indirect contact with an infected person, and symptom onset usually occurs between one and four days after exposure.
As of last week, the CDC reported that 10 pediatric deaths have occurred in the nation due to influenza, with 57 deaths total during this flu season.
COVID-19, as many know as the dreadful disease that caused a world-wide shutdown, is caused by the SARS-CoV- 2 virus, first identified in 2019. The disease belongs to the family of coronaviruses, but the virus identified in 2019 specifically infected people, hence the term when speaking about this illness, COVID-19.
Symptoms are quite similar to the flu but can be much more severe and long-lasting with fever and chills, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, new loss of taste and smell.
Transmission of the virus is from person to person; one can become infected by simply breathing in the air shared with an infected individual, which is why masks nearly became a norm in 2020.
Now, RSV is a respiratory virus that most commonly infect infants, children and adults over 65 years old or those with chronic diseases. Symptoms can be similar to the common cold.
RSV is contagious and spreads from direct contact with an infected person. Onset after exposure occurs between three to eight days, based on the Cleveland Clinic.
Many of the symptoms are shared amongst these three illnesses, so seeking healthcare immediately at first symptom onset is vital, as if untreated, can lead to long-term chronic complications or even death.
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) reports a large number of emergency room (ER) visits currently are due to combined respiratory illnesses, with the highest attendance being in younger children.
The lower number of young-adult ER visits, however, does not mean a lower incidence in that age group.
When visiting a medical professional, people can expect a nasal swab to test for any of these three viruses.
So if any student is feeling under the weather, consider visiting the Saucier Wellness Center located on campus at 220 Hebrard Blvd, which is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Fridays fro 7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Make an appointment today.