Cough, runny nose, sore throat – millions of people in Germany are currently suffering from a respiratory disease. But unlike in previous years, cold symptoms currently seem to last particularly long. Is that correct?
Doctor gives 3 reasons for (what feels like) a constant cold
“We have no reliable data on this,” says Jürgen Behr, director of Medical Clinic V at the LMU Clinic. “But my subjective perception and also the observation from everyday hospital life is that there is an increasing number of consecutive infections.” For example: A person affected is initially ill with Corona and when the symptoms slowly subside, he gets a normal cold, For example, caused by rhinoviruses. It may feel like a “super infection” that just won’t go away, but there are simply multiple infections behind it, says Behr.
The infection situation is currently very high, as the expert emphasizes. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently reported over nine million people with a respiratory disease. “The number of infections is at an all-time high, even compared to pandemic times,” said Behr. In the current weekly report there are only around 6.1 million, but the numbers are not reliable due to the holidays, as the RKI itself writes. “With Corona we have a new player who is driving up the number of infections,” said Behr. “And the numbers will probably continue to rise because the influenza wave hasn’t started yet.”
The third aspect the doctor mentions is that sensitivity among the population has increased. “People’s behavior has changed; people are now more likely to call in sick or go to a doctor just to be on the safe side.” He himself welcomes this behavior: “If you’re sick, you should stay at home and get well.”
In summary, the expert sees three reasons for the long-lasting cold symptoms:
Double or multiple infections with different pathogens, currently very high infection levels with many sick people, which also influence the perception (“everyone is constantly sick”), changed behavior and greater caution in the population, which lead to more sick reports
Which pathogens are currently circulating and what helps
Cold symptoms are caused by a wide variety of pathogens. In its current weekly report (January 4th), the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) lists the following as the most common:
Sars-CoV-2 (causes Covid-19) Influenza (causes flu) RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, causes flu-like symptoms, in worse cases shortness of breath) Rhinoviruses (causes “normal” cold)
The symptoms are very similar, including runny nose, cough, sore throat, sometimes fever, fatigue and body aches. The expert recommends: “Stay at home and recover in peace.” If necessary, symptoms could be treated. “For example, a runny nose with a nasal spray, a cough with cough syrup or a headache with a painkiller.”
When it becomes dangerous
If the infection does not go away and there is still no improvement after ten to fourteen days, you should see your family doctor. “You should also always consider whether there might be pneumonia or another bacterial pathogen that needs to be treated with an antibiotic,” says Behr.
He cites coughing with yellowish-greenish sputum (a tea or tablespoon amount), fatigue, chills, night sweats and weight loss as warning signs. “Unfortunately, the transition is fluid, but if in doubt I would consult a family doctor, who can usually quickly determine how serious it is with the help of an ultrasound or X-ray of the lungs.” The good news: “In contrast to a viral infection, antibiotics work on a bacterial infection Infection.”
Are double or multiple infections particularly dangerous? “No,” says Behr. “They generally do not pose a major danger to healthy people.” The doctor only recommends masks to high-risk patients or relatives who want to protect them. “And the vaccination recommendation clearly still applies to people with previous illnesses, immunocompromised people or older people.”
Situation in children’s hospitals “normal madness”
And what about the little ones? “We currently have a lot of infections, no question about it,” says Johannes Hübner, infectiologist at the Dr. from Haunerschen Children’s Hospital in Munich. After the pandemic, however, “a certain normality has now set in,” he says. “Or rather normal madness.” Because, like every winter, the children’s clinics are full due to the season and they have already had to transfer their first small patients. “However, this is a systemic problem; there is a lack of nursing staff here – like everywhere else,” he says. 20 to 30 percent of the beds could not be operated for this reason alone.
There are also multiple infections in children. “This is not a new phenomenon, but thanks to the new testing options since the pandemic, we can diagnose it more easily and quickly,” says Hübner. He reports: “We always have situations where the test is positive, for example for RSV and influenza.” The Infectiologists assume that these are often two consecutive infections – one of which is just subsiding when a new infection occurs. “Then, of course, you have the feeling that the courses are incredibly long.”
When you should take your child to the doctor
When children become ill, it usually takes four to five days for the symptoms to subside, he explains. He advises rest and sleep. “If the nose is very blocked, inhalations or a nasal spray for a short time can help so that the children can sleep through the night.” But he also thinks: “We don’t have to wrap the children in cotton wool and isolate them. To put it bluntly: you don’t have to stay at home with every snotty nose.” You should go to the doctor if there is no improvement, the little ones appear weak or apathetic and stop drinking.
Can you protect the little ones? “At some point the children will go through it – at the latest when they go to daycare, kindergarten or school and are exposed to the viruses,” he says. A mask only makes sense for high-risk patients or people who want to protect them.
Also read: RSV can be particularly dangerous for the little ones – the four most important questions and answers