With cold and flu season in full swing and new Covid variants emerging, rising cases of respiratory infections are to be expected.
But health experts have become increasingly concerned over the number of patients arriving with prolonged symptoms from these illnesses.
Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the UKHSA keeps track of viral prevalence through the Respiratory DataMart System, which collects the results of swab tests from laboratories around the UK.
He told The Telegraph the data shows respiratory infections have been steadily rising since the summer in all age groups, but particularly among those aged between five and 14 who then may transmit these infections to other family members.
This seems to be a consequence of three main viruses, said Prof Hunter – flu, the JN.1 Covid variant and rhinovirus, which causes the common cold.
He said: “Flu rates are particularly on the rise in recent weeks. I think there’s a lot more pressure on the health service from flu at the moment than from Covid.”
So how do you know which virus you have?
Prof Hunter said people with a persistent rhinovirus infection are more likely to experience symptoms relating to the upper respiratory tract, such as a runny nose or sore throat.
This means anyone coughing for weeks is far more likely to have either flu or Covid. The best way to tell these two apart is to take a PCR test.
Prof Hunter said: “There are [subtle] differences between influenza and Covid symptoms but the illness is not sufficiently distinctive to enable even someone like me who specialises in infection, to make a reliable diagnosis without a test.”
So why are these illnesses lasting so long?
What may be contributing to people’s persistent illness at the moment, said Prof Hunter’s co-oinfections, where individuals become infected with more than one virus or pathogen at a time.
Studies have shown people can be infected with both flu and Covid at the same time.
In most causes these viral infections should clear up within a week. But Prof Hunter also suspects a reason people are unwell for longer periods is due to the growing numbers of long-term health conditions in the population, along with obesity which can impact immunity.
How to treat these illnesses
Cases of rhinovirus, or the common cold, can often be treated without seeing a GP. The NHS recommends getting rest and sleep, drinking plenty of water, and gargling salt water to soothe a sore throat to help a person get better more quickly.
The same is advised for treating flu and Covid, with the addition of taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a temperature and treat aches and pains.
If you are worried about your symptoms, are 65 or over, are pregnant, have a long-term medical condition, a weakened immune system or your symptoms don’t improve after seven days, you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you:
- Get sudden chest pain
- Have difficulty breathing
- Start coughing up a lot of blood
