Every year, when we reach the cold season, the most common disease that lurks in the community is the common cold. Although sometimes our efforts to prevent catching a cold are ineffective, but by knowing some tips, you can prevent catching a cold in the cold season.
Every year, with the onset of the cold season, we see the prevalence of colds among people in the community. Although sometimes our efforts to prevent this disease are ineffective, but knowing the small points and awareness of the treatment of this disease is not without grace. Perhaps following these tips until the end of the cold season will protect us from this disease. The technical deputy of Zanjan Health Center states: Although colds and flu have many similarities in terms of clinical symptoms, they are generally different and people should not confuse these two diseases. Cough, sneezing, runny nose and eyes, and muscle aches are common features of these diseases, but the most important difference is “fever,” which is usually above 38 degrees in the flu, but is rarely seen in the common cold. As well as muscle pain and Headache the door Influenza It is severe but less severe in the common cold.
Cold prevention
“Khadijeh Ebrahimkhani” talks about prevention and adds: “There is a possibility of contracting these diseases in temperate regions such as Zanjan province with the onset of autumn, and because people are more active indoors and the distance between people is short and there is no proper ventilation in homes.” The prevalence of these diseases is increasing. People who have a cold can also transmit the disease because of the discharge from their mouth or nose following sneezing. It is better for these people when coughing or Sneezing Use a paper towel or elbow crease to keep your hands from getting contaminated as contact with contaminated hands on other surfaces will transmit the contamination.
Avoiding getting lost with the patient, washing the hands regularly and in principle between 25 and 30 seconds, using a mask for those around the patient, keeping a distance of one meter from the patient and separating the patient’s dishes are important points to prevent the spread of the disease. He recommends the use of citrus fruits due to the presence of vitamin C, my job, onions, garlic, drinks and foods such as soup for prevention and continues: In addition to nutrition, rest is an important factor in the healing process.
Influenza vaccine
“The flu vaccine is usually given to children with weakened immune systems, people with chronic diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, and people over the age of 50. It can also be used by pregnant women,” said Ebrahimkhani. کردن. The best time to get the flu vaccine is from late September to early December. The technical assistant of the health center believes that people such as medical staff, health or veterinary staff or people with disabilities in welfare and those who live in nursing homes are more at risk of contracting this disease and it is better to use this vaccine. He added: “People outside the said groups who intend to inject this vaccine are advised to do so in consultation with a doctor.”
The technical deputy of the health center continues: if the type of flu changes in the new year or new or more severe types become common, even with this vaccine, the disease will not be prevented.
We have no mortality
Ebrahim Khani, pointing out that we did not have any deaths due to the flu last year, says: Pilgrims who leave the country on the occasion of Arbaeen Imam Hussein (AS) these days, if after returning any symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and They had runny nose and eyes, limiting their schedule of visits, especially to the elderly or those with a specific illness. Shaking hands and rubbing hands is not recommended at all. It is better not to meet with anyone if there are special problems.
Many people contracted the disease last year from contact with pilgrims returning from the trip. The health expert considers the inappropriate use of antibiotics to be harmful in the common cold and says: “The improper use of these antibiotics creates a kind of drug resistance that weakens the immune system.” Colds are a “self-limiting” illness that can be controlled and cured over time. Although patients believe that they can recover sooner by injecting ampoules such as penicillin or dexamethasone, they should be aware that the corticosteroids in dexamethasone have many side effects that can only be used with a doctor’s diagnosis. Pills such as oseltamivir are used to treat the flu in special and severe cases with a doctor’s diagnosis and prescription.
Self-care
The technical deputy of the province’s health center says about the “self-care” plan: “Since last year, in order to implement the health system transformation plan, a plan called the” self-care “plan has been implemented. In this project, which is carried out with the participation of families, a family member goes to the nearest health center where he / she lives with a national card of family members to file an electronic file. From each family, a volunteer who has at least 5 literacy classes is selected as the “health ambassador” of that family.
These people are then trained and given a book entitled “Self-Care in Minor Illnesses.” This book has several chapters including diseases related to mothers and babies, children, adolescents, adults and mental health. Using this book, which is written in simple and practical language, people can do self-medication with the allowed principles.
“Currently, 24,500 family health ambassadors have been trained,” said Khadijeh Ebrahimkhani. “These people can ask us their specific questions.” Honorary Health Ambassadors can cover 3 families. We plan to implement this plan in schools, institutions and organizations.
Ebrahim Khani considers the implementation of this plan to be effective in reducing the costs of treatment and not referring to unnecessary cases and says: with the implementation of this plan, families will be self-sufficient and we hope that good results will be achieved in this field.
He continues: “According to research conducted in the UK, 20% of referrals to doctors have been due to minor illnesses, which in principle do not require these referrals.” On the other hand, half of those who see a doctor do not need medication and can be treated with self-care. The results of this study show that after compiling and using a self-care book, about 50% of physician referrals in the UK have decreased.
Source: Hamshahri
