While spring has sprung around Australia, it doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods when it comes to the cold and flu. In fact, the Department of Health and Aged Care warns that while the weather may be warming up in parts of the country, flu season typically lasts until October.
As of 28 August, there have been 217,898 cases of influenza reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System this year and 288 influenza-associated deaths.
Compare the Market recently spoke with Australian television personality Dr Ginni Mansberg, who says the flu doesn’t discriminate as it spreads around Australia.
“I’ve been inundated with sick babies, toddlers and adults,” Dr Ginni explains. “Many are really unwell with high fevers, horrible coughs, feeling miserable and more.
“After two years into the pandemic, where, let’s face it, the upside was that we forgot what the cold and flu were, the viruses have come back with a bang.”
However, Dr Ginni warns that with COVID-19 side effects mirroring those of cold and flu, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to diagnose based on symptoms alone.
“Many patients tell me they couldn’t have COVID-19 because their symptoms don’t feel like COVID-19,” Dr Ginni says. “I would beg to differ. I just spoke to a patient who’s had COVID-19 for the 4th time. She told me each time it was different. All felt like variations of a cold or flu, with varying degrees of severity.”
Dr Ginni says that aside from COVID-19, she’s been seeing patients present with three main types of virus – respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza A (flu) and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). But what are they and how do they differ?
Influenza A
What is it and who’s most at risk?
“People of all ages with influenza usually get a fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose or muscle aches, headaches and fatigue,” Dr Ginni says. “Children can also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.”
How does it spread?
“Influenza spreads from person to person through droplets carried in the air, by touching a person’s hands who’s wiped their nose or eyes while they’re contagious with RSV or by touching contaminated items,” Dr Ginni explains.
How long do symptoms last?
“You come down with symptoms around two or three days after the virus enters your body and adults are contagious for five days after symptoms start,” Dr Ginni says. “However, children are contagious for up to 10 days after their symptoms begin.”
RSV
What is it and who’s most at risk?
“RSV is a super common cause of respiratory infections, especially in children under two,” Dr Ginni explains. “In this age group, RSV can cause bronchiolitis (inflammation of the smallest breathing tubes of the lung), as well as viral pneumonia (infection of the lung).”
How does it spread?
“RSV spreads from person to person through droplets carried in the air from a sneeze or cough,” Dr Ginni says. “You can also catch it by touching a person’s hands who has wiped their nose or eyes while they’re contagious with RSV or by touching contaminated items, like dirty tissues. This is why hand hygiene is really important.”
How long do symptoms last?
“You come down with symptoms between three and 10 days after the virus enters your body and can stay contagious for up to 10 days after symptoms begin,” Dr Ginni says.
HMPV
What is it and who’s most at risk?
“HMPV is a super common cause of respiratory infections, especially in children under five,” Dr Ginni says. “Common symptoms include cough, blocked and runny nose and sore throat. However, it can also cause wheezing, fever, and shortness of breath.
“Like RSV, it can cause bronchiolitis, acute croup, and pneumonia in children.”
How does it spread?
“It spreads the same way as RSV and flu – by touching the hands of someone who’s wiped their nose or eyes while contagious with RSV or touching any contaminated items,” Dr Ginni explains.
How long do symptoms last?
“You come down with symptoms around three to five days after the virus enters your body,” Dr Ginni says. “At this point, we don’t know how long you’re contagious, but we assume it’s around five days.”
