Why is the situation in the UK so bad now?

Are you sick? If not, you probably know someone who is, or at least someone who has just recovered.

Coughs and colds seem to be prevalent at the moment.

And if anecdotes from people I know are any guide, this bug seems to be a particularly nasty one.

sore throat? Tick-tock. A flowing nose? Tick-tock. Sinus pressure? Double tick.

what happened?

“This is normal, it's autumn after all,” says Professor Jonathan Ball, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

The combination of children returning to school, adults returning to work from summer vacation and people spending more time indoors as the weather cools is creating a perfect breeding ground for respiratory viruses, he said.

“Essentially, we have a big pot of different viruses that are starting to spread. Immunity is waning and people are getting sick.”

In fact, there are more than 100 types of viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections, as well as several bacterial infections.

Data collection from the UK Health and Safety Executive According to (UKHSA), rhinoviruses (what many of us call the common cold) have been on the rise in recent weeks and appear to be the most common cause of illness at the moment.

Covid is also making the rounds, driven by two new variants, XFG (known by some as Stratus) and NB.1.8.1 (known as Nimbus). However, the population has already built up a high degree of immunity, and for most people this is a fairly mild infection.

There are also signs that influenza is on the rise, with more cases occurring in the 15-25 age group over the past week. On the other hand, RSV, which can cause serious illness in young children, also tends to be prevalent in the fall.

“Often, but not always, there is a pattern,” says Dr Jamie López Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA.

“Rhinovirus tends to be prevalent first, followed by respiratory syncytial virus,” he explains. “Influenza tends to be prevalent late in December and January, but that's not always the case, and the pandemic has certainly disrupted traditional seasonal trends. What we've seen over the past year or so is that those trends are returning to more of a normal trend.”

He said the current level of illness is not very high.

“COVID-19 is above baseline and rhinovirus is circulating in large numbers. The increase in influenza in younger age groups is probably coming a little faster than we expected, but it's still at low levels.”

According to the NHS, the most common symptoms are:

cold

• Symptoms appear gradually
• Mainly affects the nose and throat
• Early signs – pressure in the ears
• Chess Chess, viscous cough

influenza

• come suddenly
• feeling wiped out
• Fever, muscle pain, fatigue
• Requires bed rest
• dry cough

COVID

• typical flu symptoms
• loss of sense of smell
• diarrhea or upset stomach

Many of the symptoms overlap between colds, the flu, and more serious viruses like the coronavirus.

Of course, respiratory infections can be extremely dangerous to vulnerable populations, and severe winter weather can cause tens of thousands of people to die from influenza.

But there is nothing to suggest that currently circulating respiratory viruses are causing more severe illness in healthy people this year.

“We all react in different ways, and we don't really know why,” admits Professor Ball.

“Of course, age and physical fitness play a big role, but in some cases it can also be a person's genetics, how tired or weak they are, or when they were last exposed to a particular virus.”

In terms of protecting yourself, the most important step to take if you are eligible is to get vaccinated. shots are offered Influenza, new coronavirus, RSV To protect those most at risk of serious illness, such as older adults and people with certain health conditions.

UKHSA says you can protect others if you are sick by washing your hands regularly, especially after coughing or sneezing, staying at home if possible, and considering wearing a mask if you have to go to public places.

Professor Ball said it was right to take precautions to protect vulnerable people, but added that if you are healthy, young and of working age, contracting a strange respiratory illness is fairly inevitable and not necessarily a bad thing.

“Most people get one or two respiratory infections each year, and in some ways that’s a good thing if you’re a child or a healthy adult.

“My immunity from natural infections has increased through exposure, so I hope my immunity is strong enough that I won't get seriously ill as I get older.”