By James Varner, MMS, PA-C
No one likes being sick, but if it’s winter, it’s flu season. We all tend to spend more time indoors, where viruses and bacterial infections are more likely to spread.
Beware Influenza Season. When coming down with the flu, most people will just experience several days of symptoms, including aches, fever, coughing and congestion. However, young children, senior citizens and people with compromised immune systems who get the flu can develop serious flu-related complications, such as pneumonia, and may become ill enough to need hospitalization.
10 Other Winter Illnesses
Acute bronchitis. Usually caused by viral infections, this causes chest pain and coughing for about three weeks.
Common cold. Coughing, sneezing, runny nose and a low-grade fever are all symptoms of a common cold — which, like the flu, is a virus that cannot be treated with antibiotics.
COVID-19. COVID-19 causes a range of symptoms from aches and pains to digestive issues and loss of taste and smell. If you are vaccinated against COVID-19, you may only experience mild symptoms. Unvaccinated people may develop more severe illness and potentially need to be hospitalized.
Croup. This infection mostly occurs in children younger than 5 and causes a barking cough and a hoarse voice.
Laryngitis. “Losing your voice” is usually caused by an upper respiratory infection.
Pneumonia. This infection can affect one or both lungs, causing them to fill with fluid, while also causing fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In adults, RSV usually presents as a mild cold, but in infants and senior citizens, it can lead to pneumonia.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Sure, it might not make you cough or sneeze, but lack of sunlight can negatively affect your mood.
Sinus infections. Dry air, allergies or lingering symptoms from past illnesses can lead to infected sinuses with painful headaches.
Stomach flu (norovirus). This contagious virus spreads through contaminated surfaces or contact with an infected person and causes serious vomiting and diarrhea.
Flu Shots and Other Seasonal Vaccines
While it’s impossible to prevent contracting all types of winter illnesses, the flu, COVID-19 and pneumonia have highly effective vaccines that can prevent illness. Even if you get sick despite being vaccinated, your symptoms will be far less severe.
Talk to your primary care doctor about the recommended vaccinations for these winter illnesses.
Other Ways to Prevent Winter Illnesses
To prevent illness, practice the following common sense safety measures:
• Disinfect surfaces you touch regularly, such as doorknobs and phones.
• Stay home from work and keep your children home from school when sick.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds frequently and use hand sanitizer if a sink is not readily available.
James Varner, MMS, PA-C is a board-certified physician assistant that sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group Primary Care, where he provides primary health care, preventative care, and the treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in adults.
