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COVID-19 AND THE FLU

A potential double whammy this winter | BY DR. ANDREW PODOS

It’s understandable that so you love might not be at risk for CO- even into January or later. Getting much of the public’s focus is VID, an increasing number of COVID vaccinated has been shown to reduce on COVID-19; it’s a new dis- cases means that medical resources flu illnesses, doctor visits, missed work ease that we’re learning more are being stretched to their limits and and school days, and to reduce the risk about every day. It’s affecting may become unavailable. With high of flu-related hospitalization and death tens of millions of people numbers of people being hospitalized in children. Flu shots are available at across the world. While its effects on and/or going to ERs and physician physician offices, pharmacies and the children aren’t fully understood, we offices for COVID-19-related issues, it Florida Department of Health. do know kids can be infected with this reduces available resources for patients If you do get the flu, there are coronavirus strain, fewer children have who may become ill with the flu or medicines available for treating it, but been sick with COVID-19 compared other illnesses. they are limited in their effectiveness to adults, and they can spread the virus Another problem is that it’s hard for a few reasons. First, flu medicines to others. to distinguish between the flu and CO- need to be taken soon after the start of

As we welcome winter, everyone VID-19. They both have very similar the illness to be effective. This can be should be reminded that COVID-19 symptoms, so it’s often not possible for a challenge because you or your child isn’t the only respiratory illness we a physician to tell if you have CO- might not show symptoms until a day need to take steps to prevent. School VID-19 or the flu without a test. This or two after the illness starts. It’s also vacations, holiday gatherings and can create anxiety and confusion in important to realize that flu medicines cooler weather mean that all respira- homes, at workplaces, and in schools as are not a cure, they merely shorten tory illnesses will likely increase in people become concerned that they’re the duration of the illness by a day prevalence, as they typically do when experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak. or two by limiting replication of the people gather indoors. It’s a fact that Another potential issue is the pos- virus. Unfortunately, medicines to treat close contact with other people in- sibility of co-infection. Some viral the flu often make kids sick to their creases transmission of these illnesses. infections have the ability to occur stomachs and can cause vomiting. Flu

COVID-19 has proven more deadly simultaneously with another infection. medicine can also be expensive. than influenza, but we can’t over- This means it’s possible that during the Your mother and grandmother look the possible severity of the flu. flu season, you could get the flu and were right; prevention is the best There were more than 30 million U.S. COVID-19 at the same time. Because medicine. It’s better to avoid getting cases of flu last year, while as of mid- COVID-19 is a new illness, the medi- infected in the first place than it is to November 2020, there were about cal community is not yet clear whether rely on medicines to try to treat your 11 million U.S. cases of COVID-19. this co-infection could create a more symptoms once you’re already sick. The flu is a nasty illness, and kids can severe illness than when COVID-19 COVID-19 has taught us all a lot be more susceptible. According to the or the flu are acquired individually. this year, and as we enter the peak of Centers for Disease Control and Pre- The best way to prevent flu is with cold and flu season, don’t forget that vention, last flu season had one of the a flu vaccine. The CDC recommends the lessons of COVID-19 also apply to highest recorded numbers for pediatric that everyone 6 months and older the prevention of cold and flu. To preflu deaths. get a seasonal flu vaccine by the end vent getting sick, get a flu shot, wear

Due to COVID-19, there are sev- of October. However, as long as flu face masks, practice social distancing eral new problems that will arise this viruses are circulating, vaccination when possible, and wash your hands flu season. Although you or someone should continue throughout flu season, often and thoroughly.

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Dr. Andrew Podos is a pediatrician with Millennium Physician Group in Naples.