Causes of Throat Pain and Treatment Options
Covid, RSV, Norovirus Or Flu: NHS Reveals One Thing You Should Do If You've Got Symptoms
A 'quad-demic' has led to the NHS offering a piece of crucial advice to those affected (stock) (Image: scu)
The NHS has warned Brits of the one thing to should do if they have symptoms for Covid, RSV, norovirus or the flu.
NHS Chiefs are calling the four-way of these illnesses a "quad-demic," with each virus spreading across the country as winter bolsters their advances. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has since revealed there were up to 1,069 confirmed cases of Covid in the week up to December 11. Deaths and hospital admissions due to Covid have also increased, despite the number of confirmed cases decreasing by 1.6%.
The number of flu patients in hospital beds is also on the rise, higher than any recent winter nationally. Numbers published at the end of last week has shown hospital admissions for flu in Greater Manchester have risen two-and-a-half times in just 20 days.
The NHS has offered one piece of crucial advice (file) (Image:
Getty Images)Experts are now advising people "take one for the team" and avoid socialising if they are feeling unwell in the run up to the New Year. Advice from the health service confirmed people should try and keep themselves hydrated and eat healthily as at-home remedies which may help combat the illness.
Their advice reads: "Supposed to be going to a Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Year party but feeling unwell? Take one for the team and stay at home so that everyone else doesn't get ill." Keeping cosy is key to dealing with bouts of flu or Covid, with the NHS recommending you dress warm with gloves and plenty of layers, as well as keeping most used rooms at 18C, Yahoo reported.
A statement released by the NHS before Christmas Day urged people to get a flu jab if eligible. NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: "The NHS has been hit hard with an early festive flu season, putting increased pressure on staff as they prepare for the long winter ahead of us.
"In response to the flood of flu cases so early in the season, the NHS has been making it as easy as possible for people to get protected with a jab, including vaccination centres in supermarket car parks and football clubs, helping protect almost 29 million people across England – while also opening up more hospital beds.
"As children finish school and friends and families congregate over the Christmas period we expect viruses to continue to spread so if you haven't got your flu jab and are eligible please come forward, and the public should think twice about seeing loved ones if they are seriously unwell.
"As the busy winter continues, I am incredibly grateful to those staff working to keep patients safe and provide them with the best possible care and I would remind anyone who needs medical support to continue to use 999 and A&E in an emergency and for everything else, use NHS 111 or 111 online."
Latest Covid Symptoms That You May Notice While Eating
A sore throat that could make eating difficult is one potential warning sign of Covid (Image: Getty)
Health experts have warned people to look out for five symptoms of Covid that may become noticeable while you are eating. The warning signs could signal coronavirus rather than a number of other seasonal illnesses.
The advice comes as cases of COVID-19 remain high in the UK, along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, and norovirus. This has sparked concern that combined we could face a "quademic" this winter.
In an update, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) explained: "We see cases of flu, RSV, COVID-19 and norovirus throughout the year, but in winter they circulate at the same time and can reach high levels. We also track other respiratory viruses – rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and parainfluenza – that can also peak over the autumn and winter months."
When it comes to getting the correct treatment for your illness, as well as preventing its spread to other people it is first important to know exactly what you are dealing with. Therefore, the UKHSA shared the telltale signs of Covid to be aware of.
A loss of appetite is one potential red flag sign of Covid (Image:
Getty)It said that though the virus may not cause as "severe" an illness as it did at the start of the pandemic, it is still leading to "severe illness, hospitalisations, and deaths". The risk of this happening is higher among those with a weakened immune system and certain long-term health conditions, as well as older people.
But, the health body said: "It is normal and expected for viruses to genetically change over time and the new COVID-19 variants, much like previous variants, can spread easily through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. The autumn COVID-19 vaccines are our best defence against serious illness."
It acknowledged that Covid symptoms have changed over time. However, there are five signs that could appear when eating:
The UKHSA also said symptoms are likely to resemble a cold but could be accompanied by fever or chills, continuous cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, body aches, headache, blocked nose, and diarrhoea.
Currently, people aged 65 and over, living in a care home for older adults, or in a clinical risk group aged over 6 months, are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine via the NHS.
Nausea could be a symptom of Covid, the UKHSA said (Image:
getty)To lower your risk of catching Covid in the first place the NHS recommends washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. "Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean," it says.
Other measures to further lower the risk of Covid, which are important if you are especially vulnerable, include:
The symptoms of RSV to look out for include a cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, tiredness and fever. It could also be easy to mistake flu symptoms for Covid, but the signs to look for include severe-cold symptoms with a fever or body aches.
Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Mirror
In contrast, the main symptoms of norovirus are feeling sick (nausea), diarrhoea and being sick (vomiting). You may also have a high temperature, headache and aching arms and legs.
New Yorkers Should Mask Up As RSV Cases Spike, Health Officials Say
If you're feeling under the weather this holiday season, you're not alone.
The number of New Yorkers infected with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, has jumped since last month, according to the New York City health department. The virus can cause mild, cold-like symptoms, but some people can become seriously ill. Symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, chills and a loss of appetite.
Nearly 5,000 cases of RSV were reported to city health authorities in the week ending Dec. 14, health officials said. That number has risen sharply since the beginning of November.
Flu cases have also jumped in December, though not at the rate seen last winter, when the health department received more than 10,000 positive influenza test results.
Differences in severity can vary season by season based on a number of factors, including whether people seek care for their symptoms, according to the agency.
New Yorkers can prevent transmission of RSV by covering their coughs and sneezes with their arms or with tissues, wearing masks, washing their hands often and staying home when sick, health officials said.
The virus spreads through droplets from infected people when they sneeze or cough. It can also travel after drying on bedsheets or other objects, and can remain infectious on contaminated surfaces for several hours, according to the state health department. Kissing an infected person can also spread the virus, officials said.
There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, but there are vaccines available for adults who are 60 or older, as well as pregnant people, infants and some children.
While RSV infections usually don't result in severe illness, infants and older adults are at greater risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Comments
Post a Comment