The 2022-2023 cold season has started in effect: in just two weeks, more than 1,200 people in the county needed specialist medical care after being diagnosed with respiratory viruses and pneumonia. The largest were the cases of virosis, respectively 1,102, for which 55 patients were required to be hospitalized. No person has been diagnosed with the flu so far, but the administration of the flu vaccine has already begun, with nearly 33,000 doses being distributed to hospitals and family doctors so far.
Like every autumn, when family doctors and specialists are faced with numerous patients with viruses and pneumonia, the cold season 2022-2023 seems to follow the same trend. This even though, at the same time, the population must protect themselves and become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Thus, according to a centralized situation of the Vaslui Directorate of Public Health (DSP), between 17 and 30 October, that is, within two weeks, during which the weather was rather capricious, the doctors of the county dealt with 1,224 cases of respiratory infections , of which 1,102 were viral and 122 were pneumonia. Fortunately, only a small fraction of people diagnosed with such upper respiratory conditions required hospitalization, 55 of those with viruses and 56 of those with pneumonia, respectively.
For viruses, the highest incidence was recorded in the age groups 5-14 years (417 cases), 2-4 years (263 cases) and 15-49 years (202 cases), with the rate of hospitalizations among children. Regarding the 122 pneumonias reported in the last two weeks, the highest incidence was recorded in the age groups 15 – 49 years (31 cases) and 50 – 64 years (20 cases) and among people over 65 years of age. (25 cases). Regarding hospitalizations, it can be said that there are not very big differences between one age group and another.
Fortunately, no cases of flu have been recorded in the province so far. For the cold season 2022-2023, DSP Vaslui has requested 45,212 doses of the flu vaccine from the Ministry of Health, but so far 40,066 have been received in two installments. As in previous years, the vaccines were distributed to county hospitals to immunize doctors, middle-level health care workers and auxiliary staff, as well as county family doctors to vaccinate the population in the at-risk categories, i.e. people over 65. years, with chronic diseases, especially respiratory and cardiovascular, but also with metabolic diseases, but also children and institutionalized elderly. Of the total doses received, 28,041 doses were administered through October 31.
Tips for the cold season
Doctors recommend that the population, during this period, observe personal hygiene measures such as washing their hands with soap and water or using handkerchiefs to sneeze or cough, in order to prevent respiratory diseases, especially the flu. They also need to avoid traveling outdoors and exposing themselves to cold, but also consume as much fruit, vegetables and protein-rich foods as possible.
“To prevent the onset and spread of respiratory and flu infections, we recommend that the population avoid contact with sick people and crowded areas, avoid traveling in open spaces and prolonged exposure to cold. We also recommend the consumption of foods rich in proteins, fruits and vegetables and, last but not least, influenza vaccination, especially for people at high risk of the disease. Personal hygiene measures, such as washing hands with soap and water, using handkerchiefs to sneeze or cough, are essential to prevent respiratory diseases, especially the flu. In the event of a change in the state of health, self-medication should be avoided and it is recommended to go to the family doctor’s office for diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. Last but not least , it should be noted that, as in previous years, the flu vaccination campaign takes place through the offices of family doctors and in health facilities with beds. As part of the influenza vaccination campaign, priority will be given to immunized people over the age of 65, with chronic diseases, in particular respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, respectively children and elderly hospitalized, pregnant women and medical staff “, Mihaela Topliceanu told us, spokesman for DSP Vaslui.
