(Belga) Only one in five people with symptoms that may indicate the corona virus consult their GP, according to the Infection Radar of Hasselt University and UAntwerp. That writes Het Belang van Limburg on Wednesday and the news is confirmed to Belga by biostatistician Lisa Hermans (UHasselt).
At the moment, about a thousand people from Limburg and Antwerp fill in a short questionnaire for the Infection Radar every week. The project of Hasselt University and the University of Antwerp was set up earlier this year to map out in detail the spread of infectious diseases and viruses in our country. “Our figures show that of the people with symptoms – which can be from any infectious disease – not everyone goes to the doctor. Only one in five consults the doctor,” says Hermans. “We therefore have no information about four out of five people via the traditional way of mapping infectious diseases. By critically bundling symptoms, we can also see in certain groups what lives there from certain infections.” The Infection Radar has indicated a clear increase in the number of possible corona symptoms in recent weeks. “We clearly see that our figures for common sore throat, a runny nose and cough have increased from September 1, mainly in households with children,” explains Hermans. “It has been slightly less present in the last week, but it will continue to increase because we are at the start of winter.” Before the start of winter, the researchers want to recruit participants from other provinces for a better representativeness of the Infection Radar. However, it is also important to map infectious diseases in children, says Hermans. Due to privacy legislation in our country, only adults can complete questionnaires. The researchers therefore call on parents to complete the questionnaires for their children as well. (Belgium)
At the moment, about a thousand people from Limburg and Antwerp fill in a short questionnaire for the Infection Radar every week. The project of Hasselt University and the University of Antwerp was set up earlier this year to map out in detail the spread of infectious diseases and viruses in our country. “Our figures show that of the people with symptoms – which can be from any infectious disease – not everyone goes to the doctor. Only one in five consults the doctor,” says Hermans. “We therefore have no information about four out of five people via the traditional way of mapping infectious diseases. By critically bundling symptoms, we can also see in certain groups what lives there from certain infections.” The Infection Radar has indicated a clear increase in the number of possible corona symptoms in recent weeks. “We clearly see that our figures for common sore throat, a runny nose and cough have increased from September 1, mainly in households with children,” explains Hermans. “It has been slightly less present in the last week, but it will continue to increase because we are at the start of winter.” Before the start of winter, the researchers want to recruit participants from other provinces for a better representativeness of the Infection Radar. However, it is also important to map infectious diseases in children, says Hermans. Due to privacy legislation in our country, only adults can complete questionnaires. The researchers therefore call on parents to complete the questionnaires for their children as well. (Belgium)
–
