As the UAE embraces the winter season, there’s a marked increase in cases of coughs, colds, and flu affecting both children and adults. Physicians across the region have observed this spike, attributing it to the typical pattern during the flu season.
Dr Ashla Thomas, a paediatrician at Lifeline Clinic in Al Barsha, remarked in a Gulf News report, “With the weather shifts, there’s a rise in flu-like symptoms. The majority of our patients with such symptoms are testing positive for influenza.”
Dr Olayiwola Babatunde Emmanuel from City Relief Express Clinic in Deira stressed the significance of awareness during the transition from summer to winter. He emphasized that respiratory infections like the flu become prevalent during this period.
Dr Faaris Ahamed Leon of NMC Amala Medical Centre, Al Quoz, highlighted the increase in patients presenting with high fever and flu-like symptoms since late September. “The cycle of infections within families is evident as family members fall sick repeatedly,” he said.
If a patient’s fever persists for more than two days, they undergo further testing. Many of these patients are testing positive for influenza A, while children predominantly show signs of influenza B.
Children, particularly, are at heightened risk. Dr Thomas warned, “Their developing immune systems make them vulnerable. The flu can lead to missed school days, disruptions, and even hospitalizations in severe cases.” She further advocated for the importance of the flu vaccine for children, explaining that while it might not grant full immunity, it certainly mitigates the severity of the illness.
Doctors unanimously recommend boosting immunity with a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and proper hydration. Dr Emmanuel suggests starting the day with warm water and consuming hot beverages and citrus fruits.
The pandemic taught the importance of personal hygiene, but with the relaxation of measures like mask-wearing and social distancing, the flu might spread more easily. Dr Thomas emphasized, “Though vaccines help reduce transmission, we must persist in practicing good hygiene.”
While mask usage and sanitization aren’t mandatory anymore, they are still advisable in crowded places or around sick individuals. Dr Leon expects the uptick in flu cases to continue until February or March due to early indications before winter’s onset. He advises residents to remain cautious and take preventative measures.