Ireland is facing a surge in flu cases following the Christmas period, with hospitals treating over 1,000 patients as of Tuesday morning. The HSE is sounding the alarm that flu cases are “increasing rapidly” after numbers nearly doubled during the week.
On December 31, a total of 1,017 people were in hospital with the flu – nearly double the numbers from just a week prior on Christmas Eve. This spike is heaping additional strain on GPs, ambulances, emergency departments and inpatient services, as they battle a cresting wave of respiratory bugs, with flu leading the charge.
CEO of the HSE Bernard Gloster has urged anyone coughing or spluttering to take the necessary precautions even before an official diagnosis. He said: “We would ask if you are in any way Flu symptomatic please protect yourself and others by restricting your contacts and please do not visit people in hospital or care settings.”
With flu stats rising across Ireland, many are left scratching their heads – is it just the sniffles or something more severe?
GP Dr Xand van Tulleken claimed that there is an easy way to tell whether you’re facing a common cold or a more serious flu. Speaking on BBC Morning Live, he said: “The cold will come on a little bit more slowly and typically a cold is upper respiratory tract.
“Perhaps you may have a very sore throat with a lot of snot and nasal congestion. But flu will drop you like a sack of bricks. Flu is a different experience. A cold you can keep functioning, it’s miserable, it’s no fun, but flu can be life-threatening.
“It can hospitalise you and cause major problems. It tends to come quickly and flu is what you call a whole systemic illness so it’s muscle pains, severe muscle soreness, weakness, exhaustion, being short of breath. Sometimes confusion and it can make many other health conditions worse. So the big distinction basically is flu, the really bad one,”
Dr Jamie Winn from Universal Drugstore echoed this, explaining that colds and flu come from different viruses. He said: “The common cold and the flu belong to two different viruses, common colds are rhinoviruses whereas flu is from influenza strains.
“Typically the flu tends to be more severe, with more sudden symptoms, and can lead to more complications. Each virus usually presents with slightly different symptoms with typical flu symptoms including a high fever, body aches, and chills. Alternatively, the common cold usually causes a productive cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion.”
Dr Pixie McKenna offered some preventative measures to stay healthy during flu season, telling RSVP Live: “Hygiene is so important. Not enough people know how to wash their hands properly. You should be washing your hands for about 20 seconds – sing Happy Birthday to make sure you’ve spent enough time washing them. Clean your nails and remember to dry your hands as well.”
She also recommended getting the flu vaccine, especially for those working in healthcare or caring for vulnerable individuals.
The HSE has issued a warning that the symptoms of cold, flu and Covid are strikingly similar. They explained that flu symptoms are generally more severe than those of a common cold and provided some guidance on how to distinguish between these prevalent illnesses:
Cold
When you have a cold, it usually:
- comes on slowly
- affects your nose and throat
- makes you feel unwell but you’re OK to carry on as normal.
Flu
When you have flu, it usually:
- comes on quickly – within a few hours
- affects more than just your nose and throat
- makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal.
Covid
It could be Covid if you have:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
How to avoid catching the cold or flu
The HSE shared the following tips for avoiding the cold or flu:
- wash your hands with warm water and soap, especially before eating
- do not share towels or household items, such as cups, with someone who has a cold
- do not touch your eyes or nose – you can infect yourself if you’ve come in contact with the virus
- try to stay healthy – exercise regularly and eat well.
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