Autumn arrived on March 20th and soon we will have drier weather with little rain. During this period, the incidence of respiratory diseases such as flu, cold, pneumonia, Covid-19 and viruses, where symptoms often appear and the diagnosis remains inconclusive.
Pulmonologist Maria Vera Cruz, from the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual (HSPE), differentiates the main diseases and explains which are the most common during this period.
Allergies and “itis” – attacks of rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis
Due to the higher concentration of dust and pollutants in the air, allergies occur more frequently at this time of year. The mucous membranes become dry and there is an increase in attacks of rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis and asthma.
What differs between the diseases is that rhinitis is an inflammation of allergic attacks that affects the nose. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that attacks the respiratory system, especially the bronchi. Pharyngitis, as well as sinusitis, are infections that can be caused by viruses and bacteria and not just a simple allergy, inflaming the pharynx and sinuses, respectively.
Colds and pneumonia
Low humidity during the autumn months can irritate the mucous membranes of the airways and increase the likelihood of infections with various viruses, such as rhinovirus and adenovirus, responsible for colds and pneumonia.
What can contribute to the appearance of these diseases are sudden changes in temperature, as we can see this year, going from intense summer heat to a cold front that hits Brazil in the same week that autumn arrives. Sudden cooling of the airways increases the risk of viral infections. The same can happen with the use of air conditioning, in which there may also be an accumulation of bacteria and other agents such as legionella.
Flu/influenza
With the drop in temperature, people usually tend to stay longer in closed places, which helps the proliferation of respiratory diseases, since the influenza virus is highly transmissible through sneezing and coughing, in addition to direct contact with hands and common objects such as handrails and door handles.
Viruses
The same thing explained in the case of flu happens in cases of viruses, as dry autumn weather favors the colonization of viruses and respiratory infections, which are quickly transmitted between people. It is common for viruses to cause diarrhea, fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain, stomach pain, headache, nasal discharge, among other symptoms.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
It is a group of respiratory diseases closely related to smoking. With dry air and inflammation of the mucous membranes between March and June, there is a higher incidence of chronic bronchitis (narrowing of the airways) and emphysema (irreversible damage to the alveoli).
Covid-19
In addition to all the autumn illnesses, after the pandemic that started in 2020, it is still possible to confuse the symptoms caused by the coronavirus. To differentiate, there is normally the appearance of an inflammatory condition in the throat, progressing to a dry cough, followed by sneezing, runny nose, malaise, fever, as well as weakness. You can also identify a decrease in smell and taste.
Colds can be diagnosed with symptoms of malaise, sneezing, runny nose and blocked nose, fever, but these generally become mild after 48 hours. The initial symptoms of the flu are similar to those of a cold, however, the symptomatic patient’s time is longer, lasting around a week, and can even lead to lack of appetite and weight loss.
How to avoid diseases in autumn
According to pulmonologist Maria Vera Cruz, good hydration is the key point, as well as keeping immunity high. It is possible to replace fluids with water, teas and juices and eat adequately with light foods, without leaving your stomach empty for many hours.
“It is good to avoid the crowding of people in closed places, keep environments ventilated and humidified to avoid facilitating the transmission of infectious agents, in addition to being concerned about hand hygiene”, he explains.
The specialist emphasizes the importance of keeping your vaccinations up to date. The bivalent vaccine protects against the worsening of both Covid-19 and the influenza virus, recommended for all people over 60 years of age and of any age with comorbidities and risk factors. “Hydration and nasal washing with serum also help at this time”, he adds.
It is worth remembering that the flu vaccine protects against the H1N1 virus, which is the respiratory infection in humans caused by a strain of influenza that first appeared in pigs.
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