Cape Town - With winter in full swing, everyone is forced to take note of hygiene.
Germs are in and colds and flu are rife, and the season facilitates the growth of multiple viruses.
This combined with the climate changes as well as the dramatic change in our weather humidity content presents some interesting challenges. Sniffles and sneezes are not uncommon, but many are confused about what to take and when to seek professional help.
Many people tend to self-medicate for a while before seeing a medical professional. This is okay if you are resting and eating well, and supporting your immune system. Problems arise when we overuse the wrong medication for the wrong condition and tend to allow the complications of flu or sinusitis to progress without the correct intervention.
Understanding the basics means knowing the difference between a cold and the flu (influenza).
* What is a cold? – This usually refers to the less serious symptoms of an irritated upper airway – runny nose, itchy and tearing eyes and sometimes a sneeze or two.
* How does this differ from the flu? – The flu presents a more serious clinical picture, including fever, chills, body pains and general malaise and lethargy.
* So when should you seek professional help? – Consider a visit to your doctor when your fever becomes progressively worse in terms of frequency and duration.
What are the complications of flu?
Lung infections like pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis and systemic septicemia due to a compromised immune system. Remember that while your body fights the virus, you are vulnerable to secondary viral infections. The same applies to people at risk of opportunistic infections like: transplant patients, long-term steroid or chemotherapy use, diabetics and HIV patients. When any signs of flu complications arise, act on them
Risks of self medication:
* Overdosing
* Drug interactions
* Allergies and adverse events
* Masking the symptoms
So many people ask me if it’s worth taking the flu vaccine. My answer is yes – but remember that you need it early in the season. Evidence based medicine shows that the people who benefit most are the very young and the elderly, in preventing mortality as well as decreasing the intensity of the illness. Some people have allergies to the vaccine’s constituent components, like egg allergies, and this should be reported.
DR DARREN’S TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
* Good natural immunity is not a quick fix – it’s a lifestyle.
* The immune system is dependent on sleep and rest, diet and exercise for peak performance.
* Read the labels of cold medications and know the recommended dosages.
* Side-effects of medication must be known before consumption.
* Do not use unlabelled or expired medication.
* Know your limits and don’t push your body to extremes.
* Don’t exercise or train with flu symptoms or when on antibiotics.
* Consider others and isolate yourself from work when you need to.
* Basic hygiene is a must – like hand washing and the proper use and disposal of tissues.
* When greeting, fist pump rather than shake someone’s hand.
* Minimise your exposure to people who are ill and stay away from hospitals if you can.
* Remember to guard against excessive fevers in the young as these can precipitate febrile seizures. Don’t forget that dehydration is a reality that accompanies a lack of appetite when you have a post-nasal drip.
Cape Argus
* Dr Darren Green, a trusted figure in the field of media medicine, is a University of Stellenbosch graduate who adds innovative spark to health and wellness issues.
He features on 567CapeTalk and is a regular guest on SABC3 and the Expresso show. He is also celebrity doctor for the National Health Channel and a panel expert on SABC3‘s Doctor’s Orders.
He works as an emergency medical practitioner at a leading hospital and completed four years of training as a registrar in neurology.
This column does not replace a consultation and clinical evaluation with a doctor.