Doctor explains why everyone gets sick with terrible colds

As “flu season” quickly approaches, a doctor explained why people are suffering from the worst cold they have ever had.

Dr Philippa Kaye says that “more and more people are getting sick” with symptoms similar to Covid, however, are returning negative coronavirus tests instead.

The London GP told BBC Newsbeat: “We have actually seen an increase in the number of coughs, colds and viral infections,”

READ MORE: For the latest Northants Live crime stories, visit our dedicated local news channel

The main reason, she said, is that we are seeing the first mass mixing of the population that we have had in about 18 months.

People don’t wear masks in stores or on public transport, many return to work in person – and this is having an effect, WalesOnline reports.

Dr Kaye added: “We are mixing in a way that we haven’t mixed in the past 18 months.”

There’s also a spike in “Fresher’s flu” – a spike in the common cold is spreading among newcomers to universities as they flock in large numbers after traveling across the country, bringing viruses with them.

For more stories of where you live, visit InYourZone.

Rebecca London, 24, from Bournemouth, told the BBC that the cold she caught at a festival was “the worst ever”.

She said: “I barely slept, I woke up at night coughing with a constant runny nose and felt so tired.”

She has been ill for over a week.

18-year-old student Noor Hashmi told the BBC: “Normally I can still go about my business, but this one left me with muscle fatigue, a lost voice and headaches which meant I was just stayed inside. “

Dr Kaye says if you have symptoms that could be Covid – a new cough, fever, loss of taste or smell – then you should have a PCR test.

She says colds can be treated at home with rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Because everyone has been wearing masks and distancing themselves for almost two years, that means we missed out on catching a number of cough, cold and flu viruses.

If you don’t catch them, you don’t develop immunity. So when the viruses do get to you, your symptoms may be more severe.

Dr Ron Eccles, professor emeritus at the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University, said: “If you’ve ever been exposed to a particular virus you may not develop any symptoms because your immune system has been prepared. to fight infection.

“It’s the same process which means you usually only get chickenpox once.

“With colds, we usually don’t have such a strong immune response, so we probably don’t have lifelong immunity to a particular virus,” he adds. “However, we may get a smoother response if we are exposed to this virus again.”

Don’t confuse a cold with Covid

Remember that if you have a new continuous cough, fever (temperature over 37.8 ° C) or if you notice a change in your sense of taste or smell, you should have a test immediately. PCR Covid.

Keep up to date with the latest news with our email alerts delivered straight to your inbox. register here.