The pressure from the act of coughing is often felt in the lumbar lower back area. You may experience discomfort because of increased strain placed on spine-supporting muscles as you cough. Older individuals in particular are susceptible to developing pneumonia while they have the flu.
One of the common side effects associated with pneumonia is pain felt in the middle or lower back. I have had common colds more severe than this and no one would have been able to tell that I was ill simply by looking at me. However, there are many other symptoms that can appear as well; falls and changes in level of consciousness in older people, the worsening of chronic conditions, conjunctivitis, and the loss of taste and smell. People with severe COVID have trouble breathing and will need supplemental oxygen or ventilator assisted breathing in hospitals.
Fewer people are getting severe COVID, but a lot of people are getting mild illnesses that, like my experience, are not easy to distinguish. This is allowing for very easy transmission and COVID outbreaks have increased again in hospitals and congregate settings. What I am seeing more of in COVID cases now are worsening of chronic conditions and changes of level of consciousness as mentioned with older people , a mild dry cough, mild diarrhea, sneezing and a stuffy nose.
Robert G. Lahita MD, Ph. Bob" , Director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Disease at Saint Joseph Health and author of Immunity Strong states, "Everyone's immune system is different, so people will have different responses when they contract this virus.
Some people are asymptomatic and feel completely fine; others experience very severe symptoms and end up in the hospital. In general, if you are vaccinated you will experience much less severe symptoms. Right now, there are many cases of the Omicron variant, which produces a more mild immune response.
According to Dr. Bob, "Again, it varies person to person. Some people feel bad for a day; others feel bad for longer. Everyone's immune system is unique. However, you can test positive for COVID up to months after initial infection without being contagious. People with the virus are likely contagious from about a day before symptoms appear until about five days after they start. Children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for a slightly longer time.
Influenza viruses are constantly changing, with new strains appearing regularly. If you've had influenza in the past, your body has already made antibodies to fight that specific strain of the virus. If future influenza viruses are similar to those you've encountered before, either by having the disease or by getting vaccinated, those antibodies may prevent infection or lessen its severity. But antibody levels may decline over time. Also, antibodies against influenza viruses you've encountered in the past may not protect you from new influenza strains that can be very different viruses from what you had before.
If you're young and healthy, the flu usually isn't serious. Although you may feel miserable while you have it, the flu usually goes away in a week or two with no lasting effects.
But children and adults at high risk may develop complications that may include:. Pneumonia is one of the most serious complications. For older adults and people with a chronic illness, pneumonia can be deadly. The flu vaccine can reduce your risk of the flu and its severity and lower the risk of having serious illness from the flu and needing to stay in the hospital. Flu vaccination is especially important this season because the flu and coronavirus disease COVID cause similar symptoms.
Preventing the flu and reducing the severity of flu illness and hospitalizations could also lessen the number of people needing to stay in the hospital. This year's seasonal flu vaccine provides protection from the four influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during the year's flu season.
This year, the vaccine will be available as an injection and as a nasal spray. Avoid crowds. The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and public transportation.
By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you reduce your chances of infection. Also avoid anyone who is sick. And if you're sick, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone so that you lessen your chance of infecting others.
When infected by a virus, the body mounts an immune response, sending antibodies to seek out attack the virus, blocking it from spreading further. Once the antibodies have bonded with influenza, the body produces a type of protein to kill the virus. This protein is what causes the symptoms, Donaldson says. Additionally, white blood cells produce cytokines — which are small proteins used for cell signaling — which causes inflammation in muscles and joints.
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