Respiratory Infections
Reducing your risk of catching common
Tere are some simple things
which we can all do to
reduce our risk of catching
respiratory infections.
While some respiratory
infections – such as the common
cold – are generally easy to recover
from, others like influenza and
pneumococcal disease can result in
serious illness and even death. This
is particularly the case for people
who have underlying medical
conditions which put them at
greater risk of complications from
respiratory infection (see below).
Examples of underlying medical
conditions which put people
at greater risk of complications
from respiratory infection
• Chronic heart disease – such as ischemic heart
disease, angina or those who
have suffered a heart attack
• Chronic respiratory disease – such
as asthma or Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Diabetes
• Renal disease
Influenza (“flu”)
Influenza is a debilitating viral illness with common symptoms including fever, headaches, muscle aches and pains. Influenza can also cause viral pneumonia (infection of the lungs).
Pneumococcal disease
Many people haven’t heard of pneumococcal disease and don’t know what it causes. In adults it most commonly causes pneumonia, an infection of the lungs which can be very serious. Pneumococcal disease can also cause:
• Meningitis – inflammation
around the brain
• Septicaemia – blood poisoning
• Endocarditis – an
infection of the heart
On average, each year nearly 2,500 Australians aged 65 or over die from either influenza or pneumonia2 (of which pneumococcal infection3 is a leading cause). In Australia and other developed countries more people die during the winter months; 4 when respiratory infections such as influenza5 (“flu”) and pneumococcal disease are more common. ForAustralia’s temperate regions this means that people are much more likely to catch such infections from June through to September. For those living in tropical Queensland, the risk of infection is much more evenly spread across the year. There are some easy things which we can all do to reduce the spread of infection – and our risk of contracting any such diseases (see below).
Easy steps to reduce the spread of respiratory infections
• Hand wash regularly
• Cover your nose and mouth
when coughing and sneezing
• Keep your hands away from
your mouth and face
• Get vaccinated
Vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal disease is recommended for all people with conditions listed above.6 The Federal Government funds free vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease to everyone aged 65 or over, and the vaccines are available on the PBS for those under 65 with specific medical conditions.
The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG), an independent committee consisting of medical and scientific specialists and patient support group representatives, has been encouraging people who are at greater risk of experiencing complications from influenza or pneumococcal disease to get vaccinated. In recent years, they have particularly focussed on those aged under-65 as they have also shown a poor vaccine uptake.
“Even if you feel fit and healthy, for anyone with an underlying illness such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma or renal disease,
it is important that you consider
getting vaccinated against
influenza and pneumococcal
disease. It has been proven that
those with an underlying medical
condition are put at greater risk
of complications if they develop
a respiratory infection,” said Mr
Hampson, Convenor of the ISG.
A recent study found the risk of
suffering a heart attack increases
by nearly five times – and the
risk of suffering a stroke by over
three times – within the first
three days after developing an
acute respiratory tract infection.7
Respiratory tract infections can be
caused by several agents, including
viruses and bacteria commonly
found in Australia like influenza
and pneumococcal disease.
Mr Hampson warned that both diseases disrupt everyday lives. For example, while it can take around three weeks for a healthy adult to fully recover from influenza – including two to three days confined to bed – this can be much longer for a person with an underlying medical condition. “Do yourself a favour and consult your doctor about getting vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease - you could save yourself from experiencing the worst this winter,” Mr Hampson said.
References
1. The Australian Lung Foundation.
LungNet News. February 2005
(online). www.lungnet.com.au
2. AIHW GRIM Books 2004 (based
on pooled data from 1997 – 2002)
3. National Health and Medical
Research Council. The Australian
Immunisation Handbook 8th Edition
(online). 2003. http://immunise.
health.gov.au/handbook.htm
4. Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare. Seasonality of Death
(Bulletin 3). Australia: 15-Nov-02;
ISSN1446-9820; ISBN1-74024-
209-2; AIHW Cat. No. AUS-29
5. Department of Health and
Ageing. Communicable Disease
Intelligence March 2004: 28(4).
Found at: www.health.gov.au
6. National Health and Medical
Research Council. The Australian
Immunisation Handbook 8th Edition
(online). 2003. http://immunise.
health.gov.au/handbook.htm
7. Smeeth L, Thomas S, Hall A et al. Risk
of myocardial infarction and stroke
after acute infection or vaccination.
N Engl J Med 2004;351:2611-2618