by Summertime heat, outdoor activities, and symptoms of the flu and cold?
Many individuals may not associate the three, in part because of widespread misconceptions about germs and in part because many viruses actually exhibit reduced activity during the summer.
However, in the summer, it is possible to get the sniffles or worse. For instance, federal data released on Friday indicates that COVID-19 is on the rise in the majority of states, with an increase in ED visits among individuals of all ages.
Here are some facts on summertime viruses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, very few people are currently seeking medical attention for the three main infections of COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
RSV has remained stable while flu is declining. However, in the majority of U.S. states, COVID-19 is on the rise. Moderate COVID-19 activity is estimated using wastewater data from across the nation.
Additionally, CDC research indicates that the XFG variety known as stratus is most prevalent in the United States. The World Health Organization is keeping an eye on stratus, a variation that can result in a razor blade sore throat. The WHO stated that immunizations continue to be effective against the variation, which is only slightly more adept at eluding people’s immune systems.
According to Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California Davis Children’s Hospital, COVID-19 has experienced a late summer surge in recent years, but it is anticipated that it will eventually settle into a winter seasonal pattern like other coronaviruses.
Other viruses that are prevalent at this time of year include norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, and the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease, which has symptoms akin to a cold plus sores and rashes.
A lot of viruses spread seasonally, becoming more prevalent in the fall and winter when the temperature drops. Therefore, while it is true that fewer individuals have coughs and congested noses in the summer, cold weather does not induce colds.
Seasonality isn’t the only factor. According to specialists, our behavior is the other factor. Because of the pleasant weather, people are congregating outside and opening windows, which makes it more difficult for germs to spread.
However, respiratory viruses continue to exist. Doctors say they detect an increase in illnesses when the temperature becomes too high and people seek refuge indoors. In regions that have prolonged high temperatures, summer can be considered a separate cold season.
Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency department physician and researcher at Arizona State University, remarked, “I grew up on the East Coast and everyone gets sick in the winter.” Here, summertime is a time when many individuals fall sick. Why is that? since you’re indoors more often.
When receiving any vaccination, timing is crucial for otherwise healthy individuals. According to experts, if getting boosted is due to a large trip or wedding, you should have it a few weeks beforehand. However, for the majority of people, it could be worthwhile to wait until the fall in order to see how many COVID-19 instances actually increase in the winter.
According to Dr. Costi Sifri of the University of Virginia Health System, you want to be completely safeguarded when it matters most to you.
Sifri said that people who are more likely to experience issues should always discuss their best interests with their physician. According to him, older people and people with weakened immune systems can require more boosters than others.
The CDC reported last month that the number of children under four visiting the ER was increasing. According to Blumberg, that makes sense because a large number of young children are either unvaccinated or receiving it for the first time.
In May, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that the vaccinations would no longer be advised for healthy children; however, medical professionals have argued that this decision is not supported by science. For children older than six months, the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to doctors, the same strategies that help prevent colds, the flu, and COVID at other times of the year also work in the summer.
Wear a mask, wash your hands, and spend time outside whenever you can. Additionally, stay at home if you’re sick.
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