Romania is under epidemiological alert in the context in which the number of influenza and respiratory viruses increases from day to day. We are on the wave, explains the doctors, who draw a great alarm signal: we are witnessing the effects of our refusal to vaccinate. However, they assure us that the train is not yet lost. We can immunize each other anytime, only we do. As for anti-vaccinists, they should take additional protection measures.
Romania is under epidemiological alert of respiratory infections. Archive
The infectious doctor Adrian Marinescu, the manager of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Matei Balș” in the Capital, said for “Adevărul” that one of the best solutions to prevent influenza disease – apart from vaccination – is to avoid agglomerations, Closed spaces, generally community. “But the washing on the hands is the number one rule”, explains the doctor.
Infectious doctor: “Over 100 patients with influenza pass our threshold daily”
He said that in recent weeks of the Institute of Infectious Diseases Matei Balș has been observed an increase in the number of patients who showed up with symptoms of acute respiratory infection. “And children and adults. And the flu has a very high weight here. It is a pretty strong pressure that we feel, but we cannot say that we are in a blockage. Out of 250 daily presentations at the guard room, 20% are patients who need hospitalization. Basically, the beds that are released deal almost instantly. What we solve in the morning deals during the day ”, explains the doctor.
Every day, Matei Balș is hospitalized over 40 patients with influenza: “Besides them, there are even greater number of patients who are sent to be treated at home. So, we could say that we have at least 100 cases of influenza patients who are presented daily in Matei Balș ”. Children are the most affected, the number of illnesses being much higher than that of adults: “But the really severe forms, with complications, are in adults. Often, on the child, especially if he is young, you are interneing him for monitoring, even if he does not have a serious form of illness ”.
At the moment, at the Institute of Infectious Diseases Matei Balș are admitted to those three people with serious forms of disease. “The critical forms, with patients who arrive in ATI are quite rare, but exist,” warns the infectious doctor. “It is usually about elderly people, who suffer from other diseases. The flu, practically, only aggravates the conditions these people suffer from. Let us not forget that they have the deficient immune system. I think we have 3 patients in ATI with serious forms but this number can be changed from one hour to another ”, Marinescu says.
How to prevent influenza. “We vaccinate, we wash our hands and ventilate the house well”
We can prevent the flu, first of all, by vaccination. Mihai Negrea, an epidemiologist, explained for the “Adevărul” that an anti-rack vaccinate child will have to immunize with only one dose this year: “Those who are now vaccinated for the first time need two doses of vaccine that are made at a distance of one month.”
But there are other rules that we should respect. “Preserving hygiene, self-insulating, if I have a child with symptoms I do not send it to the community, I do not go to work if I am gripped. Then, in order to prevent the diseases we should avoid crowded places, protect our nose and mouth with mask, follow an antiviral treatment so that the period in which they are contagious to be as short as possible, ” Dr. Marinescu also explains.
But from the flu we can get sick even by standing in the house. Obviously, we need to make contact with a sick person or breathe virus air. Mihai Negrea, an epidemiologist at the County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Târgu Mureș, said for “Adevărul” that the ventilation of the house can do wonders: “A few minutes, several times a day, it would be ideal if I open the windows wide. Especially after I received someone on a visit. ”
And foreign specialists recommend the same thing: ventilating rooms. According to the publication of Healthline.com, the respiratory viruses can spread through the air, and in the closed spaces, especially in the cold season, we tend to keep the windows closed to keep the heat. Therefore, opening windows for at least 10 minutes, several times a day, can do wonders in terms of air quality. Fresh air helps to dilute the concentration of pathogens, reducing the risk of infection. A trick would be to create air currents: open two or more windows in opposite directions of the house, so that the air is free and fast. In very cold days, it is enough to do this for a few minutes, but it is essential to repeat the process several times throughout the day. In this way, you will have a ventilated and well -ventilated environment, without cooling the rooms too hard.
Chlorine, the product that kills everything that “catches” in terms of viruses and bacteria
As for washing surfaces with disinfectant products more often or more intensely than we usually do, doctors do not come up with special recommendations in this regard. “Obviously we must keep the hygiene of the house, clean and disinfect periodically. However, what should be known is that the influenza virus does not last long on the surfaces. Therefore, we should not now start to disinfect the floor, furniture, doors, etc. It is sufficient to respect the hygiene rules and keep an air as fresh in the house ”, Dr. Marinescu says. The infectious doctor also says that the influenza virus is not taken from the surfaces immediately, and if it happens, on the respective surface it should be found in a high enough concentration to become dangerous.
For hygiene we can use common products, which we find in any store. But chlorine is also indicated. Epidemiologist Mihai Negrea said that chlorine -based solutions or chlorine diluted in water do wonders: “Chlorine eliminates bacteria and viruses. Therefore, whoever wants to disinfect its home can call chlorine with confidence. ”
Washing hands with soap and water makes the difference between a sick and a healthy man
Even if it looks like a simple advice, hand washing is one of the most effective ways to keep diseases away. After you have reached the potentially contaminated surfaces or put your hand on the laundry of the sick person, it is essential to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Focus on the energetic friction of the palms, the back of the hands, the spaces between your fingers and nails. If you do not have immediate access to soap and water, you can use a disinfectant gel or antibacterial wipes, but the ideal solution remains the classic washing. This simple custom also helps you in other situations, such as avoiding food poisoning, eye infections and even dermatological problems.
How much the viruses resist in the house
The duration of survival of viruses on different surfaces depends on the type of surface. Influenza viruses can remain active up to 24 hours on hard surfaces, such as kitchen countertops, door handles or plastic toys. On soft surfaces, such as textiles, the lifespan is shorter, around 15 minutes. Moreover, on their hands, viruses can withstand from a few minutes to an hour, which is why the hand washing is very important. An interesting detail is that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause serious diseases in children, withstands up to 6 hours on the hard surfaces.
