It’s that time of year again where everyone seems to be feeling unwell.
From constant sneezing and runny noses to violent coughs and fevers, most people are suffering from some vile ailment.
1
Do you have a cold? influenza? Or even worse, the coronavirus?
Although the coronavirus is not as prominent as it was this time last year, worrisome new variants have emerged and cases have increased over the past few weeks.
Millions of people have already been infected with the bug, and the vast majority of Britons are also protected thanks to the large-scale vaccine rollout. However, it is still in circulation.
The XEC variant was first detected in Germany in June and has now been reported in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom.
It now accounts for one in 10 coronavirus cases in England and Wales.
For now, scientists think the new bug is unlikely to be as deadly as its predecessor, but it may be more contagious.
Brits may face a “triple epidemic” of the bug this winter, experts fear, as the NHS rolls out a mass vaccination drive.
Meanwhile, the latest data from the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) shows the number of people in hospital with coronavirus infections in the UK continues to rise.
In the week to October 6, the hospitalization rate for patients testing positive for coronavirus infection was 4.5 per 100,000 people, up from 3.7 the previous week.
This is the fourth consecutive weekly increase.
Dr Jamie López-Bernal, from UKHSA, said: ‘If you have symptoms of influenza or coronavirus, such as a high fever, cough, fatigue or aches, avoid contact with other people, especially vulnerable people. Please try to limit it.”
Lateral flow testing is no longer free, so it can be difficult to know what bugs are occurring.
Here’s how to tell the difference:
XEC
We still don’t know exactly what the specific symptoms of XEC are.
So far, the signs are not that similar to what was seen with previous stocks.
This includes fatigue, headache, sore throat, high fever, and dry cough.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), loss of taste and smell, which was once a hallmark sign of the insect, is reported by only 2-3% of infected Britons.
If you are suffering from COVID-19, prioritize rest and hydration while using over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol to reduce symptoms.
Which cold and flu treatments actually work?
Sun Health reporter Isabelle Shaw shares nine common cold and flu treatments when the mood strikes.
Over the course of a week, she tried products aimed at all the symptoms associated with colds and flu, as well as treatments aimed solely at eliminating specific problems.
These include:
Vicks Vaporbu Echinacea Chicken Soup with Hot Honey & Lemon Steam Inhalation Spicy Curry Beechams All-in-One Oral Solution Strepsils Lemship Max Sudafed Nasal Congestion Spray
She considered pain relief and how quickly and for how long it worked.
Read her full verdict here.
The best way to protect yourself from Covid is to get vaccinated.
The jab is not specific to XEC, which evolved from an earlier Omicron strain, but has been updated to deal with recent variants.
The NHS will offer its autumn coronavirus booster to the most vulnerable people in October. This includes:
People aged 64 and over People aged 6 months to 64 years with a more vulnerable health condition People living in aged care homes Front-line health and social care staff, including aged care homes
The NHS will contact eligible patients directly, but you can also book yourself by using the NHS app, your GP, pharmacy, drop-in clinic or by calling 119.
influenza
For many people, getting the flu can feel like an exaggerated cold.
The NHS says flu symptoms can appear very quickly.
They include:
Sudden high fever, body aches, fatigue, malaise, dry cough, sore throat, headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, feeling sick, feeling sick
This dry cough can be similar to the cough experienced by people infected with the coronavirus.
According to the NHS, the symptoms are similar in children, but they may also have ear pain and appear less active.
Influenza infection and hospital admission rates are currently stable across all age groups, according to UKHSA data.
However, the NHS says the number of infections is likely to rise in the coming weeks and peak over the Christmas period.
The health service is offering free flu vaccinations to those most at risk of contracting the virus, so if you’re eligible, you can get your shot for free wherever it’s offered.
This can be done in your doctor’s surgery as well as in supermarket pharmacies like Asda and high street favorites like Boots.
If you are not part of a group listed below that is eligible for a free vaccination, you can pay for your flu shot at certain stores.
All children aged 2 and 3 years All children in primary school and all children attending school Children aged 7 to 11 years in secondary school Children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions Clinical Children in risk groups aged 6 months to under 65 years Pregnant women Children over 65 years Unpaid carers Close contacts of immunocompromised people Frontline medical and adult social care staff
cold
Rhinovirus, commonly known as the common cold, is a mild viral infection that occurs year-round.
Professor John Tregonning, of Imperial College London, previously told The Sun that the bug usually peaks around October but “never goes away”.
Official guidance says it is normal for children to have eight or more colds a year, and adults to have at least two.
According to the NHS, a cold can cause:
Nasal congestion or runny nose Sore throat Headache Muscle pain Cough Sneezing Increased body temperature Pressure on ears and face Loss of taste and smell
The difference between a cold and the flu is that a cold usually doesn’t cause such a sudden rise in body temperature.
In contrast to the flu, which resembles general fatigue, there may be more sinus obstruction or a feeling of blockage.
For colds, you can usually expect improvement within a week, although it depends on the situation.
