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The weather is finally cooling off and the activity is moving inside. The increase in respiratory illnesses is having an impact on our community and the state. These illnesses include influenza (influenza), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and coronavirus (COVID-19). The latest data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Fluview for the week ending November 27 is posted on the cdc.gov/flu/weekly website. Seasonal influenza activity in the United States remains low, but in recent weeks the number of influenza virus detections reported by clinical and public health laboratories has increased, and the percentage of outpatient visits for respiratory illness has tended to increase. .
Nationally, the majority of influenza virus is influenza A (H3N2). Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH) has experienced a significant increase in influenza like illness (ILI) through our emergency department (SU). At the end of November, the MMH emergency department recorded 400 to 600 cases of influenza per week, including only a few positive cases for influenza. However, the number of patients positive for RSV and Covid is still significant and has an impact on our census of hospitalized patients.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild symptoms, similar to those of the common cold. Most people recover within a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially in infants and the elderly. RSV can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You get virus droplets when you cough or sneeze in your eyes, nose or mouth. You touch a surface the virus is on, such as a doorknob, then touch your face before washing your hands. You have direct contact with the virus, such as kissing the face of a child with RSV. This virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in young children in the United States. Midland Memorial has seen several hospitalizations, both children and adults, in recent months due to RSV.
The coronavirus continues to impact our community and our inpatient population. It is also a droplet virus that spreads similarly to the flu and RSV. Testing to determine which respiratory virus you may have is important for prompt treatment and to avoid hospitalization. Testing is done with nasal swabs and multiple swabs for different types of respiratory illnesses in one test (Influenza A, Influenza B, RSV and Covid).
Treatment options for COVID include outpatient monoclonal antibody infusion, which is now performed in Odessa through the state-supported center. Flu patients can be treated with one of four antiviral drugs approved by the FDA and recommended by the CDC to treat the flu this season. Outpatient treatment for RSV is primarily supportive therapy to treat symptoms. Medications for people in hospital include the antiviral medication, ribavirin, steroids, and antibiotics.
The recommendations to avoid all respiratory diseases and stay healthy are to wash your hands often with soap and water or to use hydroalcoholic hand gel, cover your cough and sneezing using a tissue. or cough into elbow and not hands, wear a mask when in public or in a crowd, drink plenty of fluids and get the seasonal flu shot and COVID vaccine or get a COVID booster if you are expected.
Val Sparks is the Infection Prevention Specialist at Midland Health
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Sources 2/ https://www.mrt.com/news/health_and_wellness/article/MMH-Respiratory-diseases-on-the-rise-16681839.php The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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