Lake Travis - Westlake Edition | October 2023

Health care

County health officials share data, prevention tips for seasonal illness

The details

RSV can be severe for infants and older adults and require hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so vaccines and other preventive measures are recommended. Symptoms typically include: • A runny nose • Decrease in appetite • Coughing, sneezing or wheezing • Fever For very young infants, breathing difficulties, irritability and decreased activity may be the only signs, according to the CDC. RSV can result in lower respiratory tract diseases such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. By the time children reach age 2, almost all will have had an RSV infection at some point, according to the CDC. Austin Public Health officials said local RSV case data is not available as it is not a reportable condition.

As flu season begins, the number of electronic laboratory-reported local cases for seasonal illnesses remains stable, said Dr. Desmar Walkes, medical director and health authority for Austin- Travis County. Seasonal illnesses include COVID-19; the flu; and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Walkes encourages residents to be prepared and know the signs of seasonal illness. “These diseases can cause severe illness. The risk is higher in the very young and very old, especially those who are living with a chronic health condition or those that are immunocompromised,” Walkes said. Given how similar symptoms are between the illnesses, it can be tricky to know which illness someone has, Walkes said.

Signs of season illness to watch out for can include:

Fatigue

Upper respiratory congestion

Cough

Muscle pain or aches

Loss of taste or smell

Fever or chills

SOURCES: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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