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Are antibiotics always the solution? 💊
With the cold season officially here, bugs and viruses are making the rounds. Often, many illnesses are caused by viruses which do not respond to antibiotics and a little TLC and rest could be all you need. Watch my video over on YouTube.com/drnora to find out what to look out for and how to manage common illnesses.
Take care and stay healthy 😘
Dr Nora 💉
Link - https://youtu.be/MHmJRJFNnJk
In today’s episode I take you through what symptoms to look out for and how to manage if you have picked up this year’s influenza virus.
Australia, to date, has recorded over 87,000 cases of the Influenza virus this year alone. Usually the flu peaks during the cooler month of August, however, we are seeing a spike much earlier on in the year. It is thought that this is related to very few cases in the proceeding 2 years due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. Now that these are lifted, cases are transmitting through the community at a rapid rate.
INFLUENZA SYMPTOMS
This may commonly present as fever, chills, cough - which may be productive, runny nose or a sore throat. You may be feeling very lethargic and have little energy to carry out tasks.
COMMON COLD
There are plenty of circulating viruses at the moment and the common cold is also one that is prevalent, the symptoms of this tend to be a runny nose, cough, sneezing and less commonly a fever.
DIAGNOSIS
Most cases respond nicely to a little TLC at home, however, if there is any doubt to the diagnosis a trip to the doctor after calling in advance may be an idea. By calling in advance, you are letting the practice know you are unwell and they may offer to either do a telephone consult or place you in isolation away from other patients.
A nasal swab is required to accurately diagnose the influenza virus. Your doctor may also carry out a physical examination to ensure there is no secondary bacterial infection.
TREATMENT
As mentioned, most cases will respond to rest, hydration and simple pain killers to reduce fever if permitted by your medical doctor. To ease a sore throat you may wish to gargle salt water if you are an adult. Simple conservative measures like a warm drink and resting well will often help to manage your symptoms effectively.
If you feel your symptoms have not improved or indeed are getting worse then it is advisable to speak with your local doctor. In some cases, where a patient may be immunocompromised, for example, pregnancy, over the age of 65 or other chronic illnesses, these patients may be at risk of developing a secondary bacterial infection which will respond to oral antibiotics.
ANTIBIOTICS
The common cold and influenza are caused by viruses, this means that antibiotics simply do not work. Unless you have a bacterial infection as mentioned above, they really will not aid your symptoms. In fact they will do more harm that good, you may get side effects from the antibiotics and worse still, you may develop a resistance to antibiotics, so that one day when you really need them, they do not work.
PROTECTION
We have all now been well versed about social distancing and mask wearing if we are unwell. These measures work effectively for the flu virus and common cold. Similarly, if you are sick, it is advisable to stay home from work and avoid infecting others around you. To improve your immune system and reduce the probability of catching the virus, ensure that you get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly. You may also consider getting an influenza vaccine from your local doctor.
CHAPTERS
0.07 Introduction
0:46 Chlamydia
1:35 Chlamydia Symptoms
2:55 Diagnosis
3:46 Chlamydia Treatment
5:45 Gonorrhea
6:18 Gonorrhea Symptoms
8:17 Gonorrhea Treatment
10:26 Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this video and as always if you have any questions or comments please drop me in a line below.
COMPANION VIDEOS
Worst Flu Season: https://youtu.be/vZBCL-PgarA
Immune Boosting Foods: https://youtu.be/Fu7tK5kHfn4
Health Tips: https://youtu.be/XMzA3l9iT20
Boxercise Workout: https://youtu.be/kbEQPOYTXBA
Full Body Home Workout: https://youtu.be/C05Z7dAOlyY
Tired All the Time: https://youtu.be/Zc0nXwC6RNw
Take care and stay healthy 😊
Dr Nora 💉
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The information provided in this video is not a substitute for getting individualised advice by an accredited healthcare professional.
Australia is in the midst of its worst flu season with hundreds of fatalities so far. Join me as I give you my top tips on influenza, how to survive it and how we test for it.
Influenza is a highly contagious disease that can have detrimental effects on our health. We can all be affected, there are certain groups of people however that may be more affected than others. These are those over the age of 65, children under 5, pregnant ladies or those with chronic medical conditions.
The typical symptoms of influenza include: fever, sore throat, dry cough, headache, muscle or joint aches and tiredness.
Symptoms will usually go away by themselves within a week with simple rest, hydration and TLC. However, there are medications which can reduce the duration of symptoms, these need to be taken soon after diagnosis otherwise they do not work.
There are many ways you can protect yourself from influenza this winter period. 2019 has seen an unprecedented amount of people having their flu vaccine which is great. Other ways of protecting yourself include washing your hands regularly, throwing away used tissues and staying away from people who have flu-like illnesses. To keep your immune system fighting strong be sure to keep up your fruit and vegetables, vitamin C which is found in strawberries, oranges and kiwi fruit is also beneficial.
Remember if your symptoms aren’t settling or you feel they are getting worse be sure to see your medical doctor for help and advice.
Thanks for watching, I hope you’ve found this video useful. As always if you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to drop me a line below.
Take care and stay healthy 😘
Dr Nora 💉
COMPANION VIDEOS
Coeliac Awareness | https://youtu.be/f7Vd5p8OU48
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Type 2 Diabetes | https://youtu.be/UUBuDnVqpkM
FILM BY VTUDIO | https://vtudio.com
So far this year rates of flu virus have almost doubled from what they were during the same time last year.
Most people will recover from the flu, however young children and older adults may be seriously affected. Symptoms can include feeling shivery with fever 🤒, headache 🤕, muscle aches, sore throat, sneezing 🤧, tiredness and a dry cough. If you are concerned about these symptoms or they worsen it is important to seek medical advice immediately.
There are some easy steps to avoid getting the flu, from the flu vaccination, to covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, washing your hands regularly particularly after being in communal areas like the toilet, cleaning surfaces regularly at home and avoiding close contact with others when you’re not feeling well.
So with the school holidays about to kick off are you protected from the flu? 😷
Wishing you all a happy and flu-free holiday.
Take care and stay healthy 😘
Dr Nora 💉
The Government funded Influenza vaccine is now in stock!
Last year was a particularly bad year for influenza with the highest levels of activity since 2009. The ‘Aussie flu’ strain was mutated meaning the vaccine was less effective than hoped for.
This year the vaccine has changed for the better, covering more strains of the flu virus. Now children from the ages of 6 months to under 5 years are being offered the flu vaccine for free as they are thought to be ‘super-spreaders’ in the community.
Along with children, the government also provide free vaccines for other medical groups; - All individuals from 6 months of age with medical conditions predisposing them to severe influenza
- Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
- All aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people from 15 years and over
- All individuals 65 years and older
Adults aged 65 and over will be offered a higher dose of the flu vaccination as they are most at risk of developing complications from flu.
Please note that the vaccine does not contain live flu virus and cannot cause flu.
However, some people may experience mild flu-like symptoms for up to 48 hours as their immune system responds to the vaccine. While some people may experience mild side effects such as pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, these usually resolve quickly.
Immediate allergic reactions are rare. People who are allergic to egg are no longer excluded from flu vaccines. If you experience any concerning symptoms, please seek medical help.
If you are interested in having your flu vaccine or would like to find out if you’re eligible for the government funded vaccine pop by and see me in clinic.
Take care and stay healthy 😊
Dr Nora x
Information gathered from health.qld.gov.au
