Family physicians and infectionists are assaulted during this period by patients with respiratory infections. “It simply came to our notice then. It is a pathology that we usually encounter in April-May “, says Dr. Sandra Alexiu, president of the Bucharest-Ilfov Family Physicians Association.
Atypical for this time of year, the circulation of rhinoviruses – the viruses that cause most common colds – is more intense, said Dr. Adrian Marinescu, interim medical director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Prof. dr. Matei Balş ”from Bucharest. “Respiratory infections with rhinoviruses are common during this period. They evolve endemic, not epidemic – this means that several cases occur at a time. Their circulation began in May and will probably persist for about a month now“Says the infectious disease doctor.
The exact number of Romanians affected by respiratory infections is not monitored during this period. In the summer months, the National Center for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control (CNSCBT) does not monitor the circulation of acute upper respiratory tract infections (IACRS). „The supervision of IACRS and a flu, nationwide, ended in May. During the summer, we only have sentinel surveillance to detect the circulation of influenza viruses “, said Veronica Zoicaş, the institution’s spokesperson. To date, no case of influenza has been confirmed in Romania, according to the information provided by CNSCBT.
Children and adults are equally affected by the common cold
If at the beginning of the rhinovirus circulation period children were infected more frequently, now adults with colds are as numerous as children, according to the observations of Professor Dr. Monica Luminos, head of the children’s infectious diseases department of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Prof. dr. Matei Balş ”from the Capital. “Children take rhinoviruses from kindergartens and nurseries during this period and then pass them on to the family, parents and grandparents. We found that the population affected by the cold is becoming more uniform, not only the children are affected “, says the specialist.
Romania is not the only country facing an increase in cases of respiratory infections during this period. In the US, doctors have observed the same phenomenon, according to NBC 12. In addition to colds, another viral infection is circulating among children in the United States: mouth-hand-foot disease. Britain is also facing a wave of colds during this period, he writes The Guardian. British doctors have seen an increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus infection. It, like rhinoviruses, also causes common colds, but can be dangerous for babies, young children and the elderly due to complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Rhinoviruses have no competition
Why we face this wave of colds in the middle of summer, the infectious disease doctor Adrian Marinescu explained to us. Rhinoviruses are not seasonal, like influenza viruses. They circulate throughout the year, but have two peaks of incidence: one in autumn – from September to November, and another in spring, between March and May. During the coronavirus pandemic, rhinoviruses disappeared from the circulation, as did influenza viruses.
“There is a so-called competition between viruses. In the winter and spring months, the competition was won by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. After the number of cases decreased, the rhinoviruses managed to come to the fore. The viral competition is like in a yard where two puppies live and the strongest one puts the other one in respect. The same competition takes place in relation to infection. The most aggressive virus causes the cases. When a stronger virus circulates, the weak one can no longer circulate simultaneously “, explains the doctor Adrian Marinescu.
Continuation of the article, here.
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