With cold and flu season in full swing, Macon County Public Health wanted to send out some reminders to help keep everyone healthy.
Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Disinfect personal and shared surfaces regularly during the day. Cover your cough or sneeze to help prevent spread to others.
To help keep those around you from getting sick, if you are feeling ill, having symptoms of fever, cough, congestion, vomiting, diarrhea, or sore throat please do not go to work or school. There are many different respiratory viruses that can cause very similar symptoms. Not all of them can be tested for at home, but Covid tests can be picked up from the Health Department front window, free of charge.
A combination flu and Covid test is now available over the counter at some pharmacies. If you feel medical evaluation is needed, please contact your primary care provider for an appointment.
When you are sick with a viral illness there are multiple things you can do to help you feel better while your immune system does the hard work of getting rid of the infection. Over the counter cough and cold medication can be helpful for symptom reduction, including cough, congestion, and fever.
Cold medications are not safe in children under the age of 6, so check with your child’s primary care provider for other guidance. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and staying hydrated. To reduce the risk of nausea or other stomach symptoms, stick to bland foods that are easy to digest. Get plenty of rest.
Pushing yourself to participate in normal activities not only puts others around you at risk of getting sick, but also prolongs how long it takes you to get better. It is better to take time to rest and recover so that you can return to your normal activities faster and feel better.
Symptoms from a viral respiratory infection typically last around 10 days. If you are not starting to feel better by the 10-day mark, it’s a good idea to get checked out by your doctor.
It’s also not too late to protect yourself through vaccinations. Seasonal flu vaccines and Covid boosters can reduce your risk of infection and the length and severity of infection. RSV is another virus that can cause respiratory symptoms.
If you are over the age of 60 speak with your primary care provider about whether an RSV vaccine is recommended for you.
All of these vaccinations are offered at Macon County Public Health. Please call 828-349-2081 to make an appointment