DeeDee Stiepan | Mayo Clinic Information Community (TNS)
Fall and winter are a time when extremely contagious viruses that trigger respiratory sickness often flow into closely in communities. As a result of many of those viruses can result in critical an infection, hospitalization and even demise, it’s essential to arm your self with methods that may assist forestall sickness and maintain you and your family members protected.
On this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Priya Sampathkumar, an infectious ailments skilled, outlines some methods you should utilize to maintain you and your loved ones wholesome throughout respiratory virus season.
“Every year we’ve what we name viral respiratory season the place individuals appear to get colds, and a few individuals worsen infections, together with pneumonia,” says Dr. Sampathkumar.
The viruses liable for inflicting most infections within the fall and winter are influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Among the best methods to supply safety in opposition to these viruses is vaccination. Annual flu pictures are really useful for everybody 6 months and older.
“The flu vaccine, as you understand, has been round for a lot of, a few years and is a really protected vaccine,” says Dr. Sampathkumar. “It does do an excellent job in stopping essentially the most critical issues of flu, that are hospitalization and demise.”
Up to date COVID-19 vaccines are additionally really useful this yr, together with a newly accepted RSV vaccine for adults ages 60 and older with danger components for RSV reminiscent of weakened immune methods, frailty or power coronary heart or lung illness.
Dr. Sampathkumar says together with getting really useful vaccinations, avoiding crowded areas, contemplating masking to guard your self in crowded indoor areas, and frequent hand-washing, are different methods to assist get you thru respiratory virus season.
“Then, in case you do grow to be sick, be sure that at that time, you do put on a masks to guard these round you. Staying residence and never exposing lots of people at your office or elsewhere.”
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