If it’s winter, it’s flu season — no matter how balmy the South Carolina weather is. We all tend to spend more time indoors, where viruses and bacterial infections are more likely to spread.
Beware Influenza Season
“With the flu, most people will just experience several days of symptoms, including aches, fever, coughing and congestion," says James Varner, MMS, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant providing preventative care and the treatment of acute and chronic illnesses at Lowcountry Medical Group Primary Care. "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.”
Read More: Flu (Shot) Season
10 Other Winter Illnesses
- Acute bronchitis. Usually caused by viral infections, such as the flu and the common cold, 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. Some symptoms mimic those of a cold and the flu. 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.
Read More: How Can You Tell If You Have COVID-19?
- Croup. This infection mostly occurs in children younger than five and causes a barking cough and a hoarse voice.
- Laryngitis. “Losing your voice” is usually caused by an upper respiratory infection. Some forms of the condition can be more serious in children.
- 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.
Read More: Managing Seasonal Depression
- Sinus infections. Dry air, allergies or lingering symptoms from past illnesses can lead to infected sinuses with painful headaches.
- Stomach flu (norovirus). This highly contagious virus spreads through contaminated surfaces or contact with an infected person and causes serious vomiting and diarrhea. Although it can affect people all year, it’s most common from November to April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Flu Shots and Other Important 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,” Varner says. “Even if you get sick despite being vaccinated, your symptoms will be far less severe.”
According to the CDC, flu vaccinations are recommended every flu season for everyone six months and older, and pneumonia vaccines are available for children under two years old, adults age 65 and older and people of all ages with medical conditions that weaken the immune system.
Talk to your primary care doctor about the recommended vaccinations for wintertime illnesses.
Other Ways to Prevent Winter Illnesses
If you have a healthy immune system, it is easier for your body to fight off illness. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise are two of the best things you can do to prevent getting seriously sick or developing other conditions that can lower your immunity.
You’re also far less likely to contract any type of illness this winter by practicing 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.
- Wear a mask while indoors in public places, such as stores and schools.
Before you get sick this winter, find a primary care provider accepting new patients. Need care quickly? Download BMH Care Anywhere for an urgent care video visit.