There is a Combo Virus, Attention! The increase in time spent in closed environments during the winter months brings with it an increase in respiratory cases. Altınbaş University experts warned against the combo virus, which occurs when more than one virus spreads at the same time.
As we enter the new year, there is a serious increase in Covid-19, influenza and other seasonal viruses affecting both adults and children across the country. Moreover, not only one virus stands out, but the combo virus that emerges from the simultaneous spread of more than one virus also threatens health. All these signaling developments in health were explained by Altınbaş University Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Department of Chest Diseases, Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya and Altınbaş University Health Vocational School Dr. Lecturer Member İpek ADA ALVER evaluated it. Altınbaş University Faculty of Medicine, Head of the Department of Chest Diseases, Prof. Dr. Özkaya said that flu symptoms have increased 2-3 times in emergency and outpatient clinics and there has been a serious intensity, and said, “There are a lot of applications with complaints of fever, cough and sore throat. Minds are confused. Previously, there would be an increase in seasonal periods. "So when the weather got cold, influenza would dominate," he said.
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Everyone Has the Covid Virus
Explaining that Covid changes the response of the immune system, Prof. Dr. Özkaya said, “Everyone has the Covid virus. In other words, influenza and swine flu viruses, which did not bother you before the pandemic, now become disease-causing very easily. "Even viruses that would not make you sick before Covid have started to cause disease," he said. Prof. attributes the reason why the cases are so common to the fact that there is no longer a single virus in humans. Dr. Özkaya said, “Several viruses affect people at once. That's why we often can't find out which virus is causing the disease. One of them shows up in the tests, the other one doesn't. Because the normal influenza virus would cause fever and cough for two or three days and get better after two or three days, but in the current situation, it is longer and more effective because several viruses are effective at once. Fever and cough occur. One day you are good, the next day you are bad, so the flu has become chronic. Because not one virus, but several viruses are effective in society. Children and young people are luckier. The middle age group comes with pneumonia. Those over the age of 65 and those with chronic diseases have a more severe disease and their pneumonia increases. We are facing an incredible pneumonia disease. This is not just due to influenza. "It occurs together with several viruses," he said.
Covid-19 Sub-Variants Appear in Increasing Numbers
Prof. also stated that the protection methods are similar to coronavirus. Dr. Özkaya said, “As the time for vaccination has passed, individual measures now come to the fore. "We need to go back to the mask," he said. Altınbaş University Health Vocational School Dr. Lecturer Member İpek Ada Alper also explained the cases that occur with the simultaneous spread of more than one virus, which can be defined as a combo virus, and reach a level that threatens human health, and said, "In such cases, by interpreting the results obtained from blood and swab samples, Omicron's JN, which is the sub-variant of the Covid-19 variant, "The .1 variant, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), the new variant of Influenza type A H1N1, and pneumonia, especially affecting children, appear simultaneously with increasing numbers," he said. Microbiologist Alper stated that the spread of the combo virus epidemic occurred as a result of sick individuals not taking precautions and said, "Individuals may experience multiple symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, body malaise, joint pain, nasal congestion or runny nose, sneezing, headache, high fever, cough, difficulty breathing." When they start experiencing symptoms, they should take precautions such as wearing a mask and isolation. "It is necessary to go to the hospital and have the relevant tests done in order to determine the underlying microorganism and create an appropriate treatment plan without wasting time," he said.
They Are Involved in Society
Recommending that patients experiencing symptoms should rest at home during this period, Alver said, “If the patient is a child, he should not be sent to nursery or school. "It is obvious that the epidemic spread as a result of sick individuals not taking precautions and mixing with society instead of staying in isolation at home," he said. Microbiologist Ada Alver also emphasized the importance of the immune system in combating epidemic diseases and said, “In this process where more than one virus is spreading, we need to keep the immune system strong in addition to isolation measures. For this, we need to get enough sleep, minimize stress factors, consume probiotic and prebiotic-containing foods and immune system-boosting foods and drinks in our diet, be careful to be outdoors, and take mineral and vitamin supplements. On the other hand, when we look at this combination virus epidemic, walking and breathing exercises outdoors are also important since it generally affects the upper and lower respiratory tract.”
