The number of cold cases, which had significantly decreased due to the corona epidemic, is increasing once more for the first time in three years. Most of the quarantine measures seem to be the cause, but among the current cold viruses, there are some types that are as dangerous to infants and the elderly as the flu, so you need to be careful.
This is Cho Dong-chan, medical reporter.
<기자>
Kim Mo-yang, who has just passed the stone.
I showed symptoms of a cold, but I thought it would pass easily because it wasn’t Corona or the flu.
[감기 환자 보호자 : (아이가) 지난 목요일부터 기침하고 콧물 났는데, 토요일 밤부터 고열이 났습니다. 39.5도, 40도까지….]
Eventually, the cold turned into pneumonia, and the medical staff is even considering hospitalization.
[민택기/순천향대병원 소아청소년과 교수 : 평상시와 다르게 신체 활동이 줄어든다거나 먹는 양이 줄어든다거나 이제 소변량이 줄어든다면, 컨디션이 더 나빠지고 있다는 증거입니다.]
A month ago, the number of hospitalized cold patients increased, and last week alone, it exceeded 1,000.
Among the many cold viruses, metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus are leading the spread.
Both viruses have been shown in recent studies to be just as deadly as the flu for infants and the elderly.
Looking at the domestic trend graph of cold viruses over the past 7 years, several cold viruses that were quiet during the corona are on the rise as before Corona.
This year is the first time that Corona and a cold are spreading at the same time, and the fatality rate is higher if they are infected together.
As a result of a study at Seoul National University Hospital, it was found that 2.2% of hospitalized corona patients also caught a cold until last year, but it is highly likely to increase this year.
Conversely, the case of corona following a cold is not well known, but there are reports that some cold viruses alleviate the symptoms of Corona like vaccines.
Infants and the elderly should visit a hospital and receive active treatment if the high fever continues for more than four days and the cough worsens even if the corona and flu tests are negative.
(Video editing: Nam Il, CG: Jo Soo-in·Kang Kyung-rim, VJ: Shin So-young)
