How to protect yourself from respiratory infections
With the arrival of the cold season, certain contagious but preventable diseases are making a comeback. To combat the spread of respiratory infections and viruses, the Luxembourg Ministry of Health has launched a new communication campaign to raise public awareness about prevention methods and essential barrier gestures to protect yourself and others.
What is a respiratory infection?
These are infections of the upper (nose, throat) and/or lower (bronchi and lungs) respiratory tract. Common symptoms include:
- runny nose;
- sneezing;
- sore throat;
- coughing;
- and fever.
It is important to note that not all of these symptoms are systematically present in people with respiratory infections. Each individual may present a different combination.
Acute respiratory infections are mainly caused by viruses such as Influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) or bacterial infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal pneumonia), Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough).
Easy and effective protective measures
It is important to remember that barrier gestures remain the best method to prevent the spread of viruses.
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Coughing into your elbow is still the easiest thing to do. To make this a habit, maintain this reflex even when you’re alone. Immediately throw away used tissues and then wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer/hydroalcoholic gel. As a general rule, wash your hands frequently throughout the day and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Limit contact and avoid close contact with people who are showing symptoms or when you yourself are sick.
Ventilate indoor spaces sufficiently: 3 to 4 times a day for 10 minutes, whether at work or at home. Clean and disinfect surfaces, especially when someone is sick.
If you are sick, wear protective masks, avoid contact with vulnerable individuals, and stay at home to prevent spreading the infection.
Vaccination, effectiveness, immunity
Vaccination remains the simplest and most effective way to protect against viruses and reduce their spread during the winter. Even if you do fall sick, the symptoms will generally be less severe and the infection period will be shorter, thanks to the protective effect of the vaccine.
Doctors generally recommend vaccination against influenza and Covid-19, particularly for people at risk, for whom acute respiratory infections can be particularly dangerous as they are more likely to develop serious complications.
Healthy habits help protect oneself
We can’t say it often enough, but a healthy lifestyle helps to prevent infections because a balanced diet and adequate sleep strengthen the immune system. Regular physical activity improves overall health, and good hydration is also essential for proper elimination.
In short, prevention is the best defence
By adopting all these simple but effective measures, together we can help to reduce the spread of viruses and respiratory infections during the winter.
Useful links
- Respiratory infections on Santé.lu : https://sante.public.lu/fr/espace-citoyen/dossiers-thematiques/i/infections-respiratoires.html
- 2024 Campaign: https://sante.public.lu/fr/campagnes/2024/infection-respiratoire.html
