By Katia Hetter, CNN
(CNN) — Fall is here, classes are picking up, and along with the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, other people are experiencing colds, coughs and other cold-like symptoms.
What do other people do if they have these symptoms?When are they tested for COVID-19, flu, and other viruses?What can they take to feel better and when do they go to the doctor?And what precautions do they take at school, at work, and at home?
To help us answer those questions, I spoke with our CNN medical wellness expert, Dr. Anna S. Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and professor of fitness policy and control at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. He was in the past of Baltimore’s fitness commissioner.
CNN: What do other people do if they develop cold-like symptoms?
Dr. Leana Wen: Respiratory infections are not unusual, especially in winter. There are more than two hundred viruses that cause this common cold. It is estimated that children suffer six episodes of respiratory illness each year, while adults experience two to four. Cold symptoms go away without express treatment.
What other people do if they have these symptoms depends on their physical prestige and the vulnerability of their family members. Some other people are very vulnerable to the severe consequences of viral illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza. These other people take antiviral treatment if they test positive to lessen their threat of hospitalization and death.
I urge you to get tested for COVID-19 at home if you have cold-like symptoms, are 65 or older, 50 or older with underlying health conditions, or are immunocompromised or have serious pre-existing conditions that affect your health. center and lungs. If positive, they can take Paxlovid if they are eligible, and if not, they can ask their health care provider for the other oral antiviral treatment, molnupiravir, or the injectable antiviral remdesivir.
These other people also deserve to be tested for the flu, especially if they have a fever and body aches. If they have the flu, they should take the flu-fighting antiviral, Tamiflu.
It is also for others living in the same family as a vulnerable user to check for COVID-19 early and frequently. The coronavirus is highly contagious, and if you test positive, you can take proactive steps to isolate yourself from other high-risk individuals. living with you.
CNN: What about other viruses, when other people are tested for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), for example?
Wen: Some doctors’ offices test RSV as a component of a viral panel. Since there is no targeted antiviral treatment for RSV, a positive test does not replace treatment.
Most people with cold-like symptoms don’t need a viral panel for this reason. In certain circumstances, doctors may recommend a complete viral test, such as if an immunocompromised patient is very sick. However, most people probably won’t want to know exactly which virus is causing their symptoms, as it would likely not replace the remedy they receive.
CNN: What precautions do other people with cold-like symptoms take at school, work and home?
Wen: Let’s take each of those conditions separately. Schools have policies related to these diseases. Most do not allow young people to return to school if they have a fever or severe viral symptoms, such as vomiting. Some require a doctor’s note and may also require tests.
Workplaces may also have those protocols. When in doubt, stay home when you have a fever and active or new symptoms. If you will have to return to work, wear a high-quality mask that fits well when you are around other people, including in convention halls and on public transportation. to avoid infecting others.
The precautions to take at home depend on the vulnerability of those who live with you. While sometimes everyone is healthy, it’s not unreasonable to do what you did before COVID-19. Keeping a symptomatic child away from an asymptomatic child does not justify the extra effort. On the other hand, if a family member is very vulnerable (for example, an elderly grandparent with a serious lung disease), then that user deserves not to be in the same situation. Room as user in poor health.
CNN: What can other people take to feel better?
Wen: If a user has COVID-19 or the flu and is eligible to receive antivirals, they take them early in their illness. Otherwise, it is a symptomatic treatment.
This means drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and get enough rest. If a user develops a fever or muscle aches, they may want to take Tylenol or ibuprofen. Other over-the-counter medications can also relieve some serious symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough.
CNN: When do other people see a doctor?
Wen: Most people probably wouldn’t want to see their health care provider for viral illnesses like the common cold. Those who are most involved are the elderly or the very young, as well as other people with high-risk pathologies. People and their caregivers are prepared to see a doctor if they are concerned or if something doesn’t seem general; For example, if an older user feels confused, a baby is more restless or sleepy than usual, or someone who has an underlying disorder. . state that turns out to be getting worse.
Otherwise, reasons for seeing a doctor come with the inability to retain fluids (and in young children, a reduction in the number of rainy diapers), shortness of breath and shortness of breath, and persistent fever for more than a few days. Intense and bothersome symptoms such as as sore throat and headache can also cause you to call a doctor.
Finally, people vulnerable to serious illness due to COVID-19 and their family members deserve to be tested for the coronavirus. Vulnerable people deserve to have a plan ahead of time to access antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and influenza.
CNN: Finally, can you remind us how other people protected themselves from those viruses?
Wen: I should point out that viral infections are incredibly common and difficult to avoid. However, there are steps that other people can take in the face of the risk of infection.
These steps come with thorough hand washing. Viruses can be transmitted through touched surfaces. People on the move deserve to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before touching their face or eating.
Depending on the importance of avoiding viral infections, Americans can take extra measures, adding avoiding crowded indoor spaces and wearing a mask in the presence of other people. Of course, I urge others to stay up to date on their vaccinations, adding the new COVID-19 Vaccine, the flu vaccine, and, if eligible, the new RSV vaccines.
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