2023-12-28 00:54:10
In the midst of the cold season, the persistence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of respiratory diseases, due to drastic changes in the climate in some regions of the country, a notable increase in flu cases has been recorded, Covid-19 and RSV.
Recently, the Carlos III Health Institute indicated that “the overall rate of acute respiratory infections (ARI) registered in Primary Care Centers in Spain has increased by 33% and serious cases that have required hospitalization have increased by 10%.”
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Following the report, the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network of Spain has dedicated itself to analyzing the level of positivity in the different viruses of the patients involved, giving a high possibility in the diseases that make up the ‘tripledemia’.
20% corresponds to the flu, a disease caused by influenza A and B viruses, which has increased by 7% compared to the previous week.
14.3% are caused by variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the Covid-19 disease, increasing by 1% in confirmed cases.
15.2% corresponds to RSV or Respiratory Syncytal Virus, which causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which has decreased its cases by 0.6%.
Triplemia are three viruses that coexist in several territories on the continent.
What is ‘tripledemic’?
The term tripledemic refers to the possible simultaneous circulation of three respiratory viruses: influenza or flu, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV and Covid-19. This situation raises concerns regarding the pressure it might put on health systems and the potential for an increase in illnesses and hospitalizations.
How do I know if I have the flu or Covid-19?
Both Covid-19 and the common flu share several similar symptoms, but identifying them to carry out the corresponding treatment is key. The only way of absolute and 100% reliable confirmation is through specific specialized medical tests.
Many of these can be made in laboratories and others can be obtained quickly in different drugstores.
The Mayo Clinic recommends that the tests be carried out days following the appearance of symptoms, when it is considered that it may be ‘the viral peak’, in addition, it mentions that in the case of flu or RSV it is between day one and 4, if It is Covid-19, this epidemiological peak occurs between day 2 and 14.
You can also read: ‘Tripledemic’: why is it a threat to health systems in America?
What are the main symptoms of ‘tripledemia’ diseases?
Among the most common symptoms of respiratory diseases are fever, fatigue, cough, nasal congestion and secretions, headache, throat and chest pain, body aches and general feeling of malaise, among others.
However, these are not the only diseases that present similar symptoms, since the common cold and some infections can present these same conditions, so it is recommended to see a specialist if the symptoms appear for several days.
Some of the characteristic symptoms of Covid-19 are the loss of taste and smell, although not all variants of the virus present these symptoms.
In the presence of the symptoms mentioned above, immediate isolation is important, in order to avoid the spread of respiratory diseases, regardless of their origin.
When in doubt, seeking medical advice is essential. Health care professionals can perform comprehensive evaluations, order specific tests, and provide guidance on treatment and symptom management.
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