Despite the decreasing curve of influenza and other seasonal pathologies, “family doctors' surgeries are crowded in this period due to viral respiratory diseases which this year, as a characteristic, have a long duration. In short, we have fewer cases, but more checks of worried people who come to be examined for symptoms that persist for a long time. The cough, in particular, can last up to 4 weeks”. Silvestro Scotti, national secretary of the Federation of General Practitioners (Fimmg), outlines the framework for Adnkronos Salute.
“In the past – he explains – perhaps we had 10 cases and 1-2 visits per patient. Now, with only 3 cases, we follow the patient for up to 3 or 4 weeks with frequent checks, because after the acute phase, characterized by fever, cold and ache of throat, continue to have cough and irritation of the upper airways. Symptoms which obviously create concern in people who, therefore, call us and repeat requests for visits”. The situation, according to Scotti, “probably represents the long post-Covid wave”.
“All the measures adopted during the pandemic – he reasons – have effectively led to a loss of immune memory in many patients with respect to the normally circulating respiratory viruses. This means that we are exposed to 'repetitions' of virosis, caused by different viruses that are found in few active defenses. And all this in a sort of continuity. And this creates a circle, as if one could never escape the influence.” To all this we add “that our population is increasingly made up of elderly, frail people, with a greater tendency to complications”. In short, “in our studies there are many patients who, due to continuous reinfections, have the feeling that their flu lasts a month. And, after Covid, the symptoms are more alarming”.
At the origin of these 'queues', “meteorology certainly also plays a role – observes Scotti – with sudden changes in temperature, but also pollution, as far as large cities are concerned”.
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