Prevention is an effective weapon against respiratory infections

The Hygiene and Epidemiology Department in San Antonio de los Baños maintains a sustained control of respiratory infections, therefore intensifies preventive work at this stage through the action plan along with community factors.

Incidentally we talked with Crucelda Estrada, Health Master and Prevention Program responsible in our town. Primary care is the starting point.

How is the work at neighborhood level?

The medical classification of the population is made by the doctor and nurse particularized form the characterization of each household in the health area, it serves and keeps updating the state of health and risk factors. Incidents and diseases result from respiratory symptoms are controlled in behavior of fevers, joint aches and pains, the duration and follow-up, we always insist on early assessment to avoid complications.

What symptoms alert about this disease?

It is necessary that people know that acute respiratory infections are the most common cause of morbidity and high mortality, not only by the severity of the infection, but by the high transmissibility. Therefore, given the symptoms of high fever accompanied by others such as coughing, sneezing should see a doctor, which means that no self-medication. The study and monitoring of the diagnosis from the behavior of respiratory symptoms involves medical care to determine whether the disease is viral, bacterial, fungal or other.

What actions are carried out in the territory?

At doctor office and clinic level actions are performed, not only by the doctor and the family nurse in clinics, but in areas identified with risk population. Actions include educational lectures with the participation of specialists, who delve into the disease and healthy lifestyles. Health promoters are at neighborhood level as facilitators of preventive action. It works directly with risk groups, including pregnant women, the elderly, patients with chronic diseases, children under five, heart disease, diabetes, among others.

What preventive measures are recommended?

They apply all sanitary measures at home and work and student centers, and hygiene of our body. In this sense we speak of cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoid gathering of people, especially if there are sick, because direct contact is the first transmission path, take plenty of fluids, physical rest for the first three days, washing hands frequently, keep clean the objects of common use, ventilate the rooms and see a doctor to suspect symptoms.