What infections are circulating right now?
– We have covid-19, which gained momentum during the autumn and which remains at a high level. Then there is the seasonal flu, the winter sickness and the RS virus, which above all can be serious for very young children.
Many people want to see family and friends during Christmas and New Year. Can I go to the Christmas celebration if I’m a bit smelly?
– As a matter of principle, you should not meet others if you are not healthy. During the pandemic, we learned to stay at home at the slightest sign. Now you can have a slightly greater tolerance, but it’s a sliding scale, says Maria Marklund, infectious disease doctor in Region Västerbotten.
– But you have to make an individual assessment. Much depends on who you meet, you should not meet someone who is extra sensitive if you feel ill. To go to a nursing home, for example, you must feel completely healthy.
– If you yourself belong to a risk group, you must also think about what risks there may be when you meet others.
Soap and water
Are there any symptoms where you absolutely must stay at home?
– It is difficult to answer precisely. If it is clear that you are sick to your stomach, you should stay home, winter sickness is also very contagious. If you have a fever, a really sore throat or a new cough, it is also not suitable to meet others.
What are the best tricks to avoid infection?
– In addition to not meeting sick people, hand hygiene is very important. Keep your hands clean and avoid touching your face. It is important to know that the virus that spreads winter sickness does not disappear with hand sanitizer, but requires soap and water and that you rub properly. The positive thing is that soap and water help against the other infections as well.
– It is also good to vaccinate against the diseases for which there are vaccines, such as covid-19 and seasonal flu. And to cough and sneeze into the crook of the arm and not into the hand.
Vaccine against whooping cough
RS virus mainly affects young children, although older people can get a serious respiratory infection. Should you stay at home with small children?
– You don’t have to stay at home, but it can be good to avoid excessively large crowds.
– Whooping cough is another disease that babies can get very sick from. After the age of three months, the children can be vaccinated, but before that you should be careful. Expectant mothers recommend getting vaccinated after week 16 of pregnancy. Then antibodies against whooping cough are formed which give the baby protection during the first months of life.
Maria Marklund says that common sense goes a long way.
– Think about how you feel and who you are going to meet. Social interaction is also an aspect of health, so think about how you can meet those you like in the safest way possible.