Cold, flu and COVID-19 are all factors in Abilene marking a unique winter season, said Rob Wiley, chief medical officer at Hendrick Health.
“This is unusual,” Wiley said in a statement released by the hospital system. “The last two years, we’ve dealt with COVID but have not dealt with RSV and flu.”
That’s largely, he said, because a significant number of people have in the past masked up to prevent COVID-19, a practice that has decreased “significantly in the last two years.”
Flu at seasonal high
“We are presently in a seasonal high for our flu throughout the whole nation,” Wiley said, with 18 million cases, 190,000 hospitalizations and close to 15,000 deaths.
“The dominant strain right now is influenza A,” Wiley said, with B strains “being minimal at this point.”
Populations at most risk from the flu are those who are elderly and the very young, he said. Signs and symptoms include high fever, cough, congestion, a clear, runny nose and a sore throat.
“You don’t always have high fevers,” he said.
Muscle aches, a lack of appetite and fatigue are common. Vomiting is sometimes present.
Symptoms typically last three to five days, Wiley said.
“Within seven to 10 days, you’ll be returning to normal,” he said.
Beating influenza
When it comes to getting better, staying well-hydrated is key, Wiley said.
Patients should consult their physician if they start to experience issues with breathing, feel they are dehydrated, or have a fever that goes on for more than five days.
Treatment for the flu includes a medication called Tamiflu, which at times can be in short supply, Wiley said.
“It is key that you start this medicine within the first 48 hours,” he said. “If you do not, it is not going to be very effective.”
The medicine can cause some side effects, he said, including nausea, dizziness and other neurological signs and symptoms.
“One of the best preventative measures for the flu is a yearly vaccine, recommended for all people,” he said, especially for those over 50.
The vaccine also has been effective in limiting the severity, length, mortality and morbidity in children, he said.
RSV a concern
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
It’s typically a pediatric disease, Wiley said, but adults can get it.
“If you have a runny nose, cough, congestion (at) this time of year, more than likely it’s RSV,” he said.
The illness can produce a lingering cough for two to four weeks in adults, he said.
“Nearly 100% of kids by two years of age will have had RSV,” Wiley said, and the illness tends to be mild.
However, in the very young or in patients who have congenital heart disease or other comorbidities, it can create some issue, he said.
“In a child RSV, will present with common cold symptoms, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, maybe some low-grade fevers,” Wiley said.
Over the next three to five days, the illness may settle in the chest, cause increased coughing and perhaps difficulty breathing or wheezing.
“At the point that your child’s having any respiratory distress or you’re having problems with oral intake, they need to be seen by their physician,” he said.
There are no vaccines for RSV. Antibiotics don’t work, and there are no vaccines available.
You cannot take antibiotics for it, and there are no oral medications to take to prevent or treat it.
“Treatment for RSV is supportive,” Wiley said. “It is important to maintain hydration and continue to provide comfort for your child.”
Parents can limit exposure in a daycare setting for them and their child, especially during RSV season, he said.
COVID-19 continues
COVID-19 has “been on our mind for the last three years, and has changed everything that we have done in the past,” Wiley said.
“Fortunately, COVID-19 has taken a backseat to RSV and flu,” he said, at least so far.
However, there is an increase in active cases, he said.
That’s counterbalanced by the fact hospitalizations “are only mildly elevated, and our ICU has not been affected by COVID-19.”
Knowing what the future holds for COVID is not easy, he said.
“Nobody at this point can tell us if there’s going to be another significant surge and when that surge will be,” Wiley said.
Treatment for COVID-19 does exist, he said, in the form of the antiviral medication Paxlovid, available through one’s primary care physician.
Much like the flu, dehydration and signs of respiratory distress are of concern, he said, as is a prolonged course of the illness that extends “past two to three weeks.”
Vaccination against the illness still remains the best protection, Wiley said.
“Vaccination has been proven to decrease mortality and morbidity, especially in the older population and in patients who are immunocompromised,” he said.
Taylor County had 935 active cases Friday, about the same as it had a year ago, 918. Cases went on to rise into the thousands following the 2022 holiday period.
An ounce of prevention
The best way to fight all three illnesses is prevention, he said.
That includes good hand hygiene, staying at home when one is ill, avoiding contact with people who are ill, and if possible, minimizing exposure in daycare settings.
“Always focus on staying well hydrated and providing very good supportive care,” he said.
And if you have questions or concerns, consulting your doctor is always wise, Wiley said.
