a symptom that persists forever in many people
For a month and a half, respiratory viruses recede, but along the way they leave their mark: symptoms that persist for a week, two or even more. It’s not just an annoying cough and snot. Some people continue to have a headache, throat irritation, fatigue, or feel unwell. which makes them wonder if what they have is a “normal” flu.
According to the latest data collected by the Carlos III Institute of Health, the rate of acute respiratory infections detected in primary health care facilities is 568.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, just over half of the rates recorded in the last weeks of December and early January when the peak of infections was reached.
The rate has fluctuated in recent weeks, without deviating too far from this figure. Cases of colds, flu and colds are still common—the respiratory virus season doesn’t end until late March—but they are no longer causing a collapse in medical centers or emergency hospitals.
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By age group, children under one year old are most affected – 3087 cases per 100,000 people, followed by the group from 1 to 4 years old – 2173 cases. Since the second week of January, the incidence of influenza syndrome has been decreasingand bronchiolitis has been tormenting me since the end of December last year.
Even Covid, which four years after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 seems clear that it does not understand seasonality, has declined since the beginning of the year.
Despite the decline in incidence, it is still common to see people coughing, sneezing or appearing sick in certain places (public transport, offices, public areas).
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“I’ve had a cold for 15 days and it’s not going away,” explains Eva, a woman in her 40s who has no health problems other than a persistent infection. Like her, many other people seem to see their symptoms lengthen beyond what is expected.
“After several years of the pandemic, we are restoring normal infection rates,” says the pediatrician. Pedro Viagno. “It has been published that there may be more cases of respiratory mycoplasma infectionbut nothing extraordinary.”
Flu, Covid, seasonal coronaviruses, mycoplasmas, rhinoviruses, etc. There are many microorganisms that can cause respiratory infections, and the symptoms are very similar.
Two different patterns
Louis Buzonhead of the internal medicine service at the University Hospital of Burgos and an expert in infectious diseases, explains that these viruses have two types of patterns.
On the one hand, there is a typical cold, “beginning with nasal congestion, watery rhinorrhea and in the following days general malaise, chills, headache, cough… This usually corresponds to the presence of a rhinovirus, although others can cause it.”
On the other hand, there are forms that are most similar to the flu: “with a sudden onset, severe general malaise with muscle and joint pain, severe cough, malaise, headache… This is a common flu, but it can also occur with covid, parainfluenza, and adenovirus.… It is impossible to determine (the responsible microorganism) without additional tests, although they are usually not necessary.”
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Buzon points out that the duration of symptoms depends on the interaction between the host and the pathogen. Normally, the catarrhal process usually lasts about five to seven days, although it can last longer.
However, the type of virus does not affect as much as a person’s susceptibility. “Interactions with people are entirely determined by genetics,” with many influencing variables.
Consequently, “there are people who claim that they have never had a cold in their lives, while others, like me, get it two or three times a year.”
Perpetual cough
Pedro Viagno points out that a possible cause of these long-lasting colds is the combination of two or more viruses.
“We explain a lot to parents that during periods of high spread of the virus You can connect several that do not contract at the same time.“.
Give an example. “It is very typical to see a fever for the first few days, then it goes away, the child gets better, and then gets worse again. This is an indicator of a chain infection.”
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There are also symptoms that persist over time, the main one being cough. “After an upper respiratory tract infection, the throat, larynx, or even the airways may remain irritated and inflamed for days or weeks afterwards.”
Viano explains that “it is not an active infection because the microorganisms are no longer there, but rather something residual rather than the infection itself.”
There is nothing better to deal with it than patience. “The use of antibiotics and cold medications in the vast majority of cases is not justified.because it is contraindicated for children under two years of age.”
However, Viano says he noticed no difference in the duration of symptoms among the patients he saw in his office. “There are more virulent strains, and other years they are harmless, but this year was not exceptional.”