• Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
Podcast
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
24/7 Health News
No Result
View All Result
Home Article

Flu, RSV and COVID-19: Advice from family doctors on how to get through this winter’s ‘tripledemic’

November 23, 2022
in Article
0
Flu, RSV and COVID-19: Advice from family doctors on how to get through this winter’s ‘tripledemic’
file 20221122 20 t10vgv
Over the past month, clinics have seen a surge of sick children presenting with RSV, the flu and other viruses. (Shutterstock)

As community-based family doctors, we have been attending to patients who showed the early warning signs of the oncoming wave of our viral season. We are now in the middle of that wave: a “tripledemic” of RSV, influenza and COVID-19.

While much of the news coverage of this viral surge has focused on overcrowded emergency rooms and intensive care units, family physicians are an important front line of protection against serious illness.

We should remember that this wave of viruses hits us every year around this time, even though this appears to be a particularly bad wave of RSV and the flu. We don’t yet know for sure why this wave is so much worse than recent years.

CBC’s The National looks at how to prepare for the upcoming winter.

Observations by family doctors

Family doctors have learned important lessons through the COVID-19 pandemic that we need to apply during the current viral season.

First, the vast majority of viral infections will be mild to moderate in severity and can be managed by a family physician in an outpatient setting. Most children do not need to visit emergency rooms to seek care for viral infections.

Over the past month, our clinics have seen a surge of sick children presenting with RSV, the flu and other viruses. It has become more common to see fevers lasting longer than five days, ongoing coughs and superimposed lung and ear infections that require treatment.

In most cases, these conditions can be managed by a family physician. In a small number of cases, we reach out to our pediatric emergency colleagues to let them know a child is on their way for assessment and further management.

Second, patients should continue to seek medical care from a family doctor if they have a health concern, despite the presence of new or returning viruses. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen countless numbers of patients who delayed seeking care for serious health problems. These patients missed crucial time needed to diagnose and treat their conditions in a timely manner.

Patients should continue to see their family doctors to seek advice or treatment for a health condition, including guidance on concerning viral symptoms.

Third, we are also observing the ongoing and significant harm caused to children and young people by prolonged periods of social isolation. We are also seeing the impact of excessive screen time and social media on many of our young patients.

Accepting or imposing repeated limitations on social contact has consequences in the form of depression and anxiety. While some vulnerable people may try to avoid crowd settings during the viral season, many of our patients — especially younger ones — need to continue to find safe ways to expand and deepen their social contact with others, rather than limit it further.

a young person sitting in a red chair with their back to the viewer
Parents and health-care providers need to pay attention to the mental health of children and young people.
(Shutterstock)

Finally, vaccination is an excellent protective measure against severe illness. And masks can help to limit transmission. COVID-19 booster shots are widely available and recommended for those over five years old. Those over 12 years old can receive the bivalent booster, which offers more protection against the omicron variant.

The flu vaccine can be given at the same time. It is strongly recommended for children ages six months and older. Masking indoors has now been recommended by the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, to help reduce transmission for those that are symptomatic and to protect those who are vulnerable to serious illness as a result of contracting RSV, the flu or COVID-19.

Supporting through the next wave

As we all push through another wave of illness, along with the pressures imposed on families, education systems and the healthcare sector, we can draw on the insights that family doctors have gained from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We can be mindful of our responsibility to protect our most vulnerable by getting vaccinated, staying at home when we aren’t feeling well, and making responsible use of our medical system.

Family doctors are there to support our patients’ health, attend to chronic disease management and provide advice and direction — especially in the case of viral infections. We are there to help our patients get through this viral wave and onto the other side.

The Conversation

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ShareTweetSharePin
Previous Post

Bird flu: UK is seeing its largest ever outbreak – which may prove particularly deadly for wild birds

Next Post

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common health problem that can have serious consequences – but doctors often overlook it

Next Post
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common health problem that can have serious consequences – but doctors often overlook it

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common health problem that can have serious consequences – but doctors often overlook it

Most Read

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

December 15, 2022
morning back pain

Morning Again Ache Trigger Is Not the Mattress

October 11, 2021
lower back pain relief exercises

5 decrease again ache aid workouts

October 11, 2021
3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

October 15, 2021
Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

December 14, 2022
bleeding in gum

When The Bleeding in gum Is Severe ?

October 11, 2021
Good Night Sleep

6 Causes of Good Evening Sleep

October 11, 2021

COVID vaccines: how one can pace up rollout in poorer international locations

October 5, 2021
Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

October 12, 2021
Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

December 16, 2021
Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

December 1, 2021

Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study

October 12, 2021
News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope

Binge-eating disorder is more common than many realise, yet it’s rarely discussed – here’s what you need to know

December 2, 2022
Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

December 2, 2022
Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

January 3, 2023
How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

July 6, 2022
The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

January 4, 2022
As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

December 14, 2022
How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

October 24, 2021
Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research

Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research

November 29, 2021
Late night eating may cause greater weight gain – new research points to why

Late night eating may cause greater weight gain – new research points to why

October 12, 2022

10 Things I Learned During My Body Transformation

October 12, 2021

7 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

October 12, 2021
Nobel prize: how chilli peppers helped researchers uncover how humans feel pain

Nobel prize: how chilli peppers helped researchers uncover how humans feel pain

October 12, 2021
How air filters can make COVID wards safer for patients and staff

How air filters can make COVID wards safer for patients and staff

December 1, 2021
GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

December 16, 2022
Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

December 22, 2022
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

December 30, 2022
Why suicide prevention support is crucial for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Why suicide prevention support is crucial for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

September 28, 2022
Too hot to handle: Climate considerations for youth sport during the hottest years on record

Too hot to handle: Climate considerations for youth sport during the hottest years on record

July 19, 2022
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS