Beep, beep, beep. The thermometer beeps. A limp, small body. Red cheeks and runny nose. Fever. Autumn is a holiday season for viral infections. There is a good chance that many Norwegians will receive uninvited guests. – And there are several reasons for that. When it’s not summer and hot outside, we get closer to each other. Then it is easier for us to pass the infection on, says Kai Brynjar Hagen. Hagen is a specialist in community medicine, and tells about a sea of microorganisms that thrive particularly well in the winter months. – Seasonal flu is a clear example of that. But it is not just the annual flu wave that lurks this autumn. Specialist in community medicine, Kai Brynjar Hagen, and Are Stuwitz Berg in FHI. – There has been a good deal of infection with the common cold virus rhinovirus this autumn. We are also seeing some infection with coronavirus, which now seems to be leveling off, says Are Stuwitz Berg of the Institute of Public Health. As the temperature creeps down, the mucous membranes become more susceptible. The air becomes drier, and this can mean that small droplets of infection stay flying longer. Berg, who is director of the department for infection control and vaccination at FHI, says adults and children are mostly infected by the same viruses. – But it is not uncommon for the smaller children to have more obvious symptoms. Here are some of the viruses that can make a dent in both self-reports and sick-child days now: RS virus: RS virus causes outbreaks every winter. Just like with influenza, there is variation in the timing and size of the outbreaks, according to FHI. The course of the disease starts with fever and upper respiratory symptoms, and then spreads to the lower respiratory tract. High fever and breathing problems are typical symptoms. RS virus can cause pneumonia in infants and young children. Infection usually occurs through snot and droplet infection, and people are often contagious between three and eight days from the time symptoms appear. Children and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for several weeks, even after the illness has stopped. The incubation period is three to six days. Read more about RS virus: RS virus is a virus in the genus paramyxovirus that is one of the most important causes of lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia) in infants and young children. RS virus is transmitted by droplet infection. The gateway is the mucous membrane of the eyes and nose. Infections with RS virus are found worldwide. In Norway, we have a strong and annual accumulation of infections in the months of December and March. An infection starts with fever and upper respiratory symptoms after an incubation period of 3-4 days. The disease then spreads to the lower respiratory tract, such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia. High fever and breathing problems are the typical symptoms. The degree of severity varies with age and gender. Boys are hospitalized more often than girls. The most serious infections occur in children under one year of age. Source: Large medical encyclopedia Rhinovirus: Considered the most common cause of colds. Symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness and headache. Usually no or moderate fever. The time from infection with the rhinovirus to the onset of symptoms is between two and four days. Rhinovirus affects people of all ages, and occurs most often in spring and autumn. When it comes to colds, the recommendation is simple. – The child can return to the nursery when he is back in his usual form, despite any residual symptoms such as a runny nose and snot or cough, says Berg. Many nurseries operate with a general rule that the child must be fever-free and healthy enough to participate in normal activities. Read more about rhinovirus: Is the cause of approximately half of common colds, and is therefore considered the most common cause of colds. Was discovered in the 1950s. Affects all age groups, and is clearly popular in spring and autumn. Can survive several hours on doorknobs, telephone receivers etc. If you have just been sick with the virus, you are immune to it for a short period. Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Store Norwegian Lexicon Corona/Covid: Typical symptoms are dry cough or light cough, and persistent cough. Fever and malaise are not uncommon. Many become short of breath and experience muscle pain. According to Berg, there is nothing to suggest that you will get sicker from the corona variants that prevail now, than you did from the variants that appeared earlier. At the same time, the authorities expect an increase in the number of admissions to Norwegian hospitals due to corona infection this autumn. Chickenpox: Symptoms in children are a slight fever and rapid development of a rash into blisters, also on the mucous membranes, and itching. – Chickenpox is very contagious, and can be dangerous for those with the most weakened immune system. Chickenpox is usually a harmless disease in healthy people, but it can have a serious course in adults. According to Berg, people with weakened immune systems may need preventive treatment if someone in the household gets chickenpox. After you have been exposed to infection, it can take between 10 and 21 days before you develop symptoms of the disease. The childhood disease is contagious for one to two days before the rash, and until the rash dries up. This often takes five days or more. The virus is usually transmitted through the air, but also through direct contact with fluid from the blisters. Children can return to nursery when all the rash has crusted over and the general condition is good. Read more about chickenpox: Varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles) are caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in the herpesviridae family. Like all herpes viruses, after initial infection the virus will remain latent in the body for the rest of its life and can be reactivated. Symptoms of chickenpox infection in children are a slight fever and rapid development of a rash into blisters, also on the mucous membranes, and itching. Highly contagious one to two days before the rash and until the rash dries up, usually after five days. Is most often a harmless disease in healthy people, but in adults it can have a serious course. If you had chickenpox as a child, the virus remains latent in the body. Reactivation of this later in life leads to shingles. Chickenpox occurs in all parts of the world, but is more widespread in temperate than tropical regions. It is usually transmitted through the air, but also through direct contact with fluid from the rash. By adulthood, 90 to 95 percent of the population has had chickenpox. Source: Institute of Public Health Norovirus: Communicable disease. Vomiting. Dear child has many names, but here we are talking about a gastrointestinal infection which is a common cause of diarrhea and vomiting. Motion sickness is a classic during the winter months. Norovirus, which causes the symptoms, is troublesome but rarely dangerous. The symptoms usually last for a day or two. The virus is transmitted via water or contact with faeces or vomit. The symptoms usually last for one to two days. The incubation period is 12–48 hours. – In case of communicable disease, most people can return to work when they feel well, as long as they practice good hand hygiene. However, children in daycare and people who handle food should wait until two days have passed since the last bout of vomiting or diarrhoea. Read more about norovirus: Causes a gastrointestinal infection, and is often known as “communicable disease”. Common cause of diarrhea and vomiting. Contagious via water or through faecal-oral infection. Usually lasts for one to two days. 12-48 hour incubation time. The sick are most contagious while they have vomiting and diarrhoea, but are also contagious before and after. There is no specific treatment for norovirus infection. Most important measure to avoid getting infected: Good hand hygiene. Source: Folhehelseinstituttet/fhi.no Norovirus can cause both diarrhea and vomiting, but it is usually more troublesome than dangerous. Illustration: Egil Ursin Seasonal flu: Influenza causes fever and pain throughout the body, as well as respiratory symptoms. Influenza is often confused with a cold because several of the symptoms are similar, but the flu affects the whole body. Usually between 5 and 10 percent of the population become ill during a winter season. The incubation period is between one and four days. Do you have a sore throat, stuffy nose and at the same time vomiting and diarrhoea? Then you may have contracted the adenovirus, possibly a “cocktail” of several viruses. Read more about influenza: Influenza is a highly contagious, acute infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. The disease causes fever and pain throughout the body, as well as respiratory symptoms. Influenza is often confused with a cold because several of the symptoms are similar, but the flu affects the whole body – not just the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. Two types of influenza virus, type A and B, are the cause of the annual flu epidemics known as seasonal flu. Infection is transmitted by coughing, sneezing and close contact with sick people. Usually between five and ten percent of the population falls ill during a winter season. Source: Folkehelseinstituttet, Store Norske Lexikon You can ensure immunity Many of the viruses that abound now are highly contagious. Imagine if you could magically secure immunity against every troublesome virus that threatens? Fortunately, there is some help. For the first time this autumn, adults can be vaccinated against the three infectious diseases that affect the most: Influenza, covid and RS virus. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends vaccines for people who are particularly susceptible to serious illness. – Those with an increased risk of serious illness associated with influenza or corona should take the vaccine this autumn. This applies, among other things, to everyone over the age of 65, people who live in a nursing home or care home, pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester and adults with a number of chronic diseases, says Are Stuwitz Berg Berg of the Institute of Public Health. This applies to, among other things, heart and lung disease, neurological disease and diabetes. Children with such diseases should also receive the flu vaccine, adds Berg. – If children have a serious chronic illness, they should be considered for corona vaccination. For all these groups, with the exception of pregnant women, it is also recommended to take the pneumococcal vaccine if more than six years have passed since the previous dose. – People who are particularly exposed to serious illness must themselves assess the risk of contagion against the need for contact with others. They can also consider using a mask indoors in public spaces during periods of high infection, if it is difficult to keep a distance, says Berg. Have you wondered why only three out of four in the collective get infected by the virus? Here are some of the reasons: – Stay at home But where is the limit for when you should stay at home and under the covers? The FHI expert has clear advice for you who are in doubt: – You should stay at home if you get respiratory symptoms. It can be a sore throat, cough or runny nose, and when you feel sick, says Berg at FHI. Young children cannot always say how they feel. Then parents and guardians themselves have to assess whether the child has a reduced general condition. – This protects oneself and others against infection by respiratory infections, such as colds, flu and corona. If you are sick yourself, it is particularly important to avoid unnecessary contact with people who can become seriously ill from respiratory infections, such as infants, the chronically ill and the elderly. – In families with newborns and infants, visits by people with respiratory infections should be limited. You should contact a doctor when you are concerned about your own or your child’s health. And for those wondering; the good advice from the pandemic still applies. Bu should have good cough and hand hygiene. A thorough hand wash is the best. Hand sanitizer can also prevent infection.
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Colds, corona, chicken pox, influenza and communicable diseases – news Nordland
