Winter Package - Ailments Of The Season

It is absolutely the season to be jolly and wintry, I might say. Winter is definitely freezing cold. While children would most likely want to be on the loose to play snowballs, they are most likely prone to catch diseases that are also out to play for the season. Being out for a few hours earns you coughs or colds, usually. Most winter ailments hit the respiratory system by nature. At this point where the temperature suddenly drops, our body adjusts to it. The period of adjustment is in a way a stressor to the body resulting in a lowered resistance. So what are these ailments?

Influenza tops the list of these diseases. It is caused by a virus and is transmitted through droplets. Influenza is common among children with manifestations like fever, episodes of vomiting and coughing and sniffing. Influenza is highly preventable with vaccines; it is not life threatening in that case.

Another viral disease that one acquires from the winter season is RSV which is spelled out as respiratory syncytial virus, affecting all ages. It is characterized by a coughing and at some points, wheezing among children. Sore throats as well as nasal congestion are common manifestations among adults. RSV may possibly lead to pneumonia if the symptoms are untreated which may require hospitalization.

It is also very common in winter to acquire sore throat; it may either be caused by a virus or bacteria. Pharyngitis, which is the inflammation of the pharynx, is the medical term to denote sore throat. Usually if a sore throat is bacterial in nature, it may be a streptococcal infection and thus, you may expect your physician to prescribe you with antibiotics.

Another virus that is on the loose during winter is the rotavirus which is attributed to the diseases such as gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and the intestine, characterized by subsequent episodes of vomiting and diarrhea. Dehydration may be likely if the vomiting and diarrhea is uncontrolled. It may require confinement in the hospital.

Apart from the diseases aforementioned, winter can cause other skin ailments for people with sensitive skin. The dryness and lack of moisture during winter, when it becomes extremely cold, may cause skin breakage.

When these illnesses hit you, it could mean a week off from your office or school; it means work undone, and homework to catch up to. Like any other ailments, winter diseases are preventable. Because most of these diseases are viral in nature, proper hand washing, immunizations and a healthy diet gives you a shield against these illnesses.