COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — December is here, and a whole series of holidays and observances is coming.
Thanksgiving just wrapped up, Hanukkah begins this week, and Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Day are all coming up. You may be planning to host or attend a family gathering or get your kids ready for the beginning of the next semester of school, but there are some unwanted guests you'll want to keep from tagging along.
ABC 6 spoke to Dr. Joseph Gastaldo, infectious disease specialist with Ohio Health about keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from respiratory illnesses and keep your gatherings safe.
"Respiratory viruses are much more contagious when you are indoors and in gatherings of people especially with poor ventilation of air," Gastaldo said.
While it's not new advice, Gastaldo said it's good to remember this time of year. If you're starting to feel sick, the first step to prevent the spread of disease is to stay home and isolate yourself, and then try to figure out what it is you're dealing with. Symptoms such as a runny nose, a high fever, or breathing difficulty are key indicators of a possible respiratory virus, which could mean the flu, COVID-19, RSV, or the common cold. All share many common symptoms.
COVID-19 test kits are available and can be ordered for free online. The at-home COVID-19 tests can be taken in minutes, but Gastaldo cautions that positive and negative test results indicate whether the virus was or was not detected.
"When you first have a COVID infection, your viral load could be so low that it's not necessarily picked up yet," Gastaldo said. "If you still have symptoms after a negative test, you should repeat the test in 48 hours."
If the test results stay negative, while it may not be COVID-19, it could be another respiratory virus. It's flu season, and influenza can be both an upper and lower respiratory infection, the latter of which can eventually become pneumonia.
While those most at risk for severe illness are those who are older or have underlying medical conditions, medical professionals do see uncommon occurrences where younger and healthier people end up with an intense case.
"Flu kills or hospitalizes thousands of people every year," Gastaldo said.
As we get further into flu season, we have tools available to see what the season looks like and where cases are more prevalent. The CDC's Flu View map gives an indicator of what the season looks like for the U.S. as a whole as well as how the season evolves each week.
Fortunately, Gastaldo said, the current flu vaccine matches the predominant strain, and the vaccine is a helpful tool against infection.
"The vaccine is FDA-approved and CDC-recommended for anyone six months and older," Gastaldo said.
A third notable respiratory illness to watch out for this season is RSV, which can present as mild for most, but can be severe.
The CDC says most people with RSV will experience cold-like symptoms and usually recover in a week, but when it comes to infants or older adults, the results may be devastating.
"RSV is a major virus that can cause serious lung and respiratory illness in children, often causing hospitalizations," Gastaldo said. "The other spectrum RSV causes diseases in is senior citizens and the elderly. We especially see it in nursing home patients."
A recent tool in the fight against RSV is a vaccination, which is available to the two most at-risk populations. Older adults ages 60 and up are eligible for the vaccine, and expectant mothers may also receive the vaccine to pass along to babies in utero. Additionally, infants may receive a monoclonal antibody.
"RSV is not a new virus,"Gastaldo said, "but we're able to test for it, and now we have treatments for those at risk."
While all respiratory viruses have many symptoms in common, there are some indicators as to which you could be dealing with. A unique COVID-19 symptom is the loss of smell or taste, while those with the flu may feel body aches or lethargy.
In any case, vaccines for each offer some protection, but Gastaldo said it's still important to keep taking safety steps after getting vaccinated.
"The most important things these vaccines do is defang the virus," Gastaldo said, "meaning that if you do get infected with these viruses after you get vaccinated, it is unlikely you're going to have severe disease resulting in hospitalization or death."
No matter which virus it is, taking safety steps and knowing when to stay home is a way to keep yourself from giving the gift of sickness this holiday season.
