Respiratory illness season is beginning. Hospitals and healthcare providers aren’t required to report cases to the county, but Lisa Almaguer of Butte County Public Health said that could change if they start seeing an increase in people seeking care.
“We have not received that information yet. That's not to say that there isn't some flu and COVID and RSV spreading in the community at this time, but the levels seem to be pretty low,” Almaguer said.
One way health officials are monitoring cases is by using wastewater surveillance data. The data shows that there is an increase in influenza activity, which is typical for this time of year.
Almaguer said the post-holiday season is when things are expected to ramp up. Until then, residents can and should take precautions to limit the spread.
In order to stop the spread of illnesses, it is important for children to stay home from school and adults to take time off work, particularly when symptoms are most severe.
“Keep them home until their symptoms start to improve, and they've been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications,” Almaguer said. “And of course, the golden rule in public health is to wash your hands often. Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.”
It is also a good idea to be careful when grabbing door handles and to cough into a tissue or the corner of your elbow.
As for the different types of illnesses going around, there are a few classic differences between upper and lower respiratory infections.
Upper respiratory infections display symptoms typical of the common cold, such as nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat. Lower respiratory infections usually come with a cough and occasionally fever.
Dr. Andrew Pace is a primary care physician at Enloe. He said the rate at which he has dealt with these types of patients has been expected.
“Certain types of common cold are more common in the fall, winter and spring, and they're very common,” Pace said. “Preschool age kids, on average, could have up to seven cases of the common cold per year. [With] adults it’s more like two to three, so the frequency is pretty high.”
Regarding the flu, Pace recommended residents receive a flu shot to protect the very young and the elderly — who can sometimes experience fatal complications from infection.
As an additional precaution, Pace said that wearing a mask decreases the spread of respiratory infections by blocking respiratory particles from entering the environment.
“There's [also] some evidence that shows that a moderate amount of physical exercise regularly decreases the severity,” Pace said. “Getting enough sleep, decreasing stress levels can help decrease the severity of a common cold infection.”
Overall, the consensus from health experts is simple. Stay home when symptoms surface and for at least 24 hours after a fever ends. Wash your hands frequently and maintain your overall health by practicing essential self care.
When it comes to respiratory illness, taking care of yourself helps take care of the community.
