In autumn and winter, the climatic conditions of low temperature and low humidity are conducive to the survival and spread of the virus. As the weather gets colder and people tend to stay indoors, crowds and poor ventilation increase the chances of the virus spreading in a closed environment. Therefore, autumn and winter are the season of high incidence of respiratory infectious diseases. So, what are the common respiratory infections in autumn and winter? What are the corresponding vaccination methods?
1
influenza
Influenza (hereinafter referred to as "influenza") is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza viruses that pose serious harm to human health, and can cause seasonal epidemics every year. The disease is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets, and has the characteristics of high incidence, rapid transmission, and general susceptibility of the population.
The incubation period of influenza is generally 1~7 days, mostly 2~4 days, the main clinical manifestations are fever, headache, myalgia and general malaise, body temperature can reach 39~40 °C, fever before often chills, chills, accompanied by muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and other systemic symptoms.
Influenza vaccines are safe and effective, and vaccination is the most effective means of preventing influenza and reducing the burden of severe illness and death associated with influenza. However, due to the annual influenza epidemic strain, the influenza vaccine composition will be adjusted accordingly according to the strains circulating in the year, and the protective antibodies produced by previous vaccinations generally last for 6~8 months, after which the protective effect will weaken over time, so influenza vaccination is required every year to continue to obtain immunity.
In principle, influenza vaccination is available to all people aged 6 months and older who are willing to be vaccinated and have no contraindications, depending on the age of the person vaccinated and the type of vaccination. In order to be protected before the high flu season, everyone should be vaccinated as soon as the flu vaccine is available that year, preferably by the end of October. If not vaccinated by the end of October, vaccination can be given throughout the epidemic season. During the same flu season, people who have already completed influenza vaccination do not need to be re-vaccinated.
2
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Epidemic meningitis (hereinafter referred to as "flow brain") is an acute purulent meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, with obvious seasonal characteristics, high incidence in winter and spring, and acute respiratory infectious diseases. The disease has a high case fatality rate and high danger, and is an infectious disease that seriously endangers the health of children.
The main forms of transmission of brain flow are respiratory droplet transmission and close contact transmission. Cases of flow brain have been reported in all age groups. The disease is mainly morbidden in children and adolescents aged < 15 years, accounting for more than 60% of the total number of cases; The incidence is highest in children aged < 5 years of age, and the incidence is higher with younger age.
The incubation period of the brain flow is 2~10 days, generally 3~4 days. The main clinical symptoms are fever, headache, vomiting, and/or meningeal irritation, and anterior fontanelle bulge may be seen in infants and young children. Patients with severe disease may have varying degrees of impaired consciousness and/or toxic shock. Physical examination shows petechiae (spots) on the skin and mucous membranes, and the ecchymoses can rapidly expand and fuse into pieces. Under the standard antibiotic treatment, the mortality rate of invasive meningococcal disease can still reach 9%~12%, and the mortality rate of meningococcal bacteremia is as high as 40%. More than 20% of survivors have permanent sequelae, such as hearing loss, neurological impairment or loss of limb function.
At present, the national free brain vaccination program is for infants aged 6 months and 9 months to receive the flow brain group A polysaccharide vaccine, and the children aged 3 and 6 years old are vaccinated with the flow brain A + C group polysaccharide vaccine. If you have not received the flow brain vaccine or have not completed the prescribed dose, you can go to the local vaccination clinic and the medical staff will carry out the catch-up vaccination according to the age of the catch-up.
After vaccination, a small number of people will have local reactions at the vaccination site, including redness, swelling and pain, which will generally disappear after 1~2 days; A small number of people will have fever after vaccination; Individuals who experience a more severe allergic reaction after vaccination, which may present with dyspnea, wheezing, pallor, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness, but this is very rare. In the event of a severe allergic reaction, you should immediately seek medical attention and contact the vaccination unit.
3
mumps
Mumps, commonly known as "gills" and "runny gills", is a common respiratory infectious disease in children and adolescents, more common in children and adolescents aged 4~15 years, but also in adults, more likely to occur in winter, in schools, kindergartens and other places where children are concentrated.
The disease is caused by the mumps virus, which is the only host of the mumps virus, and the main source of infection is early patients and recessive infections, with droplet transmission as the main transmission route. When pregnant women are infected with the mumps virus, they can transmit the fetus through the placenta, resulting in fetal malformations or death, and the incidence of miscarriage also increases. People are generally prone to "tricks", and their susceptibility decreases with age. Long-lasting immunity can be obtained after recovery.
The main clinical symptoms of parotid gland enlargement and non-purulent inflammation of the parotid gland are the main clinical symptoms, and a small number of them have fever, headache, fatigue, lack of appetite and other prodromal symptoms. The parotid gland is most commonly affected, usually one parotid gland enlarges 1~4 days after the other side is involved. Bilateral parotid gland enlargement accounts for about 75%.
It is an acute, self-limited respiratory infection with a generally good prognosis, although some cases may present with serious complications. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent runny gills, and the current vaccine is the measles, mumps and rubella triple vaccine (i.e. mumps vaccine). Children received 1 dose at 8 months and 18 months of age to play an effective protective role. In addition, paying attention to indoor ventilation and allowing children to develop good personal hygiene habits can also effectively prevent the occurrence of runny cheeks.
4
measles
Measles is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by measles virus that seriously endangers children's health, which is highly contagious and easy to cause outbreaks and epidemics, and belongs to Class B infectious diseases.
People are the only natural reservoir of the measles virus, and people with measles are the only source of infection. The measles virus is mainly transmitted by droplets and can also be transmitted through direct contact with infected secretions. The disease can occur throughout the year, but mainly in winter. The population is generally susceptible to the measles virus and acquires lasting immunity after natural infection. People who have not had measles and have not been vaccinated against measles have an overt infection rate of more than 90% after exposure to measles virus.
The incubation period of measles is 7~21 days, usually 10~14 days. It usually takes about 10 days from exposure to fever and about 14 days from eruption. It lasts from 4 days before the appearance of the rash to 4 days after the onset of the rash and is contagious. The typical clinical manifestations of measles include catarrhal symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, characterized by oral measles mucosal spots (Coriolis spots) and skin maculopapular rashes. Koch plaque is located on the buccal mucosa opposite bilateral second molars, and is a white spot the size of a needle tip of 0.5~1 mm. The rash period begins after 3~4 days of the course of the disease, from behind the ears, hairline, forehead begins to spread from top to bottom to the trunk and limbs, palms, soles of the feet, the rash is a light red maculopapular rash at first, and later part fuses into dark red. The body temperature peaks at the onset of the rash, and the systemic symptoms are aggravated ; If there are no complications, the body temperature begins to drop after the peak of the rash, enters the recovery period, the rash gradually recedes according to the order of the rash site, darkens color, desquamation, and subsides after 1~2 weeks, while the body temperature drops to normal. The course of disease in uncomplicated patients is 10~14 days.
The key measure to prevent measles is the active vaccination of susceptible people. Since June 2020, the mainland has been routinely immunizing children with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (i.e. mumps vaccine) nationwide. A total of 2 doses were given, 1 dose each for infants aged 8 months and 18 months of age.
Autumn temperatures change greatly, paying attention to keeping warm, washing hands frequently, and doing personal hygiene can help us improve our immunity and stay away from pathogens, and timely vaccination is the best helper for ourselves and our families to stay away from infectious diseases and live safely in autumn.
Source: Healthy China