Health experts share tips on prevention and treatment of RSV, the flu, and COVID-19
It starts with a few sniffles, a scratchy throat, and a couple of sneezes. Before long, your symptoms worsen, and you accept the inevitable: you’re getting sick, and you may be in for several days of misery. This year, there are several viruses to go around, with respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, COVID-19, and the common cold circulating right now in children and adults.
Northern Light Mayo and CA Dean Hospitals, like other hospitals in Maine, are seeing high rates of upper respiratory illnesses in their primary care practices and emergency departments. In most cases, individuals can recover at home and let the infection run its course, but for COVID-19 and influenza, effective oral antiviral treatments may help people feel better, faster. According to Dave McDermott, MD, vice president and senior physician executive, CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals, a primary care practitioner should be the first point of contact for care if symptoms are mild to moderate.
“Your practitioner can evaluate your symptoms, determine if follow up care is necessary, and, if appropriate, prescribe an antiviral medication,” he says. “When you work through your practitioner, you’ll avoid the inconvenience of waiting in the emergency department for an antiviral medication, and the staff in the emergency department can focus on caring for the most critically ill and injured patients.”
Virtual walk-in care — a service where individuals are evaluated from the comfort of home by telemedicine with a licensed Northern Light practitioner — is another convenient option available between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week. Virtual walk-in care can be accessed from the CA Dean and Mayo Hospital websites by anyone located in the state of Maine, including people who are not currently Northern Light Health patients.
While the CA Dean and Mayo Hospital Emergency Departments have been busy lately, the staff stand ready to help with any urgent or emergent care needs that may arise.
Dr. McDermott also notes that as people gather for the holidays, they can take a few basic preventive measures to increase their chances of staying healthy and well and avoiding spreading illness to others, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.
“Getting a flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster is a simple, effective way to take control of your health,” he says. “Good hand hygiene and avoiding others who are sick will also make a difference. If you do get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others as much as you can. Wearing a mask when in public remains a very effective way to prevent the spread of these respiratory viruses.”